Blank Audio Cassettes

HC Deb 21 May 1981 vol 5 c133W

Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has any evidence of the extent of the importation of blank audio cassettes over the past six years into the United Kingdom.

Mr. Parkinson

The number of audio cassettes prepared for recording but not recorded imported into the United Kingdom in January of this year was 7,959,734. In previous years audio cassettes were not distinguished in the trade statistics from audio magnetic tapes in general. Details of imports of such blank tapes are published in table IV of the "Overseas Trade Statistics" (copies of which are in the Library) as follows1975, 1976: Code No. 9212–0293 under SITC(R) Sub-group 891.2 1977 Code No. 9212–1107 under SITC(R) Sub-group 891.2 1978–1980: Code No. 9212–1110 under SITC(R2) Item 898.31