HC Deb 24 February 1981 vol 999 cc309-10W
Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the value of British imports from the Soviet Union in 1980;

(2) what was the value of British exports to the Soviet Union in 1980.

Mr. Parkinson

Details of the United Kingdom's trade with the Soviet Union in 1980 are published in tables II register to flags of convenience during the past decade; and what are the reasons for losses from the United Kingdom register.

Mr. Eyre

There is no generally accepted definition of a flag of convenience. Information on transfers to all other flags for further trading is attached; this is only available from 1978 to end-November 1980. Information on the reasons for flag transfers is not available, but the great majority of these transactions can be expected to involve normal sales for commercial reasons. It is not possible to distinguish the minority of transfers in which the former owner retains an interest in the ship. These figures are gross and take no account of accessions to the United Kingdom register. The future size and nature of the United Kingdom fleet will depend on its international competitiveness.

(imports) and V (exports) of the December 1980 Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, copies of which are in the Library.