§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister for Trade what was the total volume of steel imports to the European Economic Community from the rest of the world in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe available information is as follows:
EC* imports of steel from non-EC countries thousand tonnes Steel industry Products Of which: ECSC products 1977 11,030 9,949 1978 10,097 8,856 1979 10,810 9,416 1980 10,482 8,992 1981 7,825 6,563 †1982 Not available 4,230 Source: EUROSTAT.
* Prior to 1981, the EUROSTAT figures are based on a definition of the Community which excludes Greece. The discontinuities in the series, which cannot readily be allowed for, are, however, likely to be comparatively small.
† January to May.