§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of dishwashers imported into the United Kingdom in 1979 or that part of 1979 for which figures are available, from each of the six countries which export most dishwashers to the United Kingdom, and the proportion of the total United Kingdom sales which is represented by imports from each of the six countries.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe information requested is as follows:
over (a) expenditure and (b) the additions which it necessary to make to provisions for future losses. They are not profits. ECGD's objective is to operate its trading activities at no net cost to public funds, and to achieve this it is necessary to maintain reserves to meet any exceptional claims arising either from the default or insolvency of private buyers or from political causes of loss, which cannot be covered by accumulated provisions or met from current income. For further information, I would refer the hon. Member to ECGD's annual trading accounts.
I have no plans to transfer any of the functions of the Export Credit Guarantees Department to the private sector.