Soviet Union (Motor Cars)

HC Deb 28 July 1980 vol 989 cc513-4W

Mr. Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many cars manufactured in the Soviet Union were imported into the United Kingdom for each of the last three years; and what are the current monthly tables.

Mr. Parkinson

The number of passenger motor cars of Soviet origin imported into the United Kingdom was as follows:

Number
	1977	14,794
	1978	17,999
	1979	23,286
January	1980	743
February		1,123
March		1,949
April		1,9515
May		948

Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics (SITC (Rev 1) Sub-groups 732.1 and 732.6 and corresponding items under SITC (Rev 2)).

Mr. John Townend

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take action to ban the import of Russian cars in circumstances where there is evidence that their components were made in forced labour camps.

Mr. Parkinson

I am not aware of any evidence that Russian car components are made in forced labour camps.