§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of Sate for Trade whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing the value and volume of imports and exports of gold coins and precious metals in each year since 1967; and if he will amend the table attached to the press notice on the monthly trade figures to include gold coins and precious metals among erratic items.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe value data requested are shown in the table below. Volume index numbers are not compiled for these items.
352WThe items classified as "more erratic" are principally those in which trade is extremely irregular and which tend to obscure the interpretation of the data. Trade in gold coin and precious metals is not generally sufficiently large or variable to warrant inclusion in this definition. Specific reference in the text of the press notice to these items is made when appropriate.
UNITED KINGDOM TRADE IN GOLD COINS AND PRECIOUS METALS £million Imports cif Exports fob 1967 45.0 65.4 1968 127.2 84.7 1969 107.1 98.0 1970 47.9 89.6 1971 31.3 75.9 1972 27.8 130.8 1973 48.4 228.1 1974 274.8 325.2 1975 312.7 313.7 1976 149.5 347.0 1977 125.5 250.6 1978 200.3 291.7 1979 238.2 557.5 Gold coins:
SITC (Rev 2) 974 in 1978 and 1979.
SITC (R) 972 and 973 in 1967–77.
Precious Metals:
SITC (Rev 2) 681 in 1978 and 1979.
SITC (R) 681 in 1967–77.
The exchange control and import licensing regulations in force between 15 April 1975 and 12 June 1979 generally prohibited the import of gold coins minted after 1937 other than for sale to persons resident outside the United Kingdom. Consequently imports of such coins over this period were balanced by re-exports.