HC Deb 04 July 1983 vol 45 cc10-2W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1970, 1977, 1982 and the first four months of 1983 imports from and exports to the European Community of (a) frozen fish fingers, (b) fish fillets and (c) other frozen foodstuffs.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The available information is as follows:

Trade with the rest of the European Community in Frozen Raw Fish Fillets
1977 1982 *1983
United Kingdom Imports
(£ thousand cif)
(i) Coated with batter or breadcrumbs 2,133 4.814 1,471
(ii) Other 5,997 36,526 10,786
United Kingdom Exports
(£ thousand fob)
(i) Coated with barter or breadcrumbs 2,739 5,804 1,854
(ii) Other 2,850 2,998 1,348
* January to April.

Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise data corresponding to SITC(R2) sub-group 034.4 and 037.1 (part) in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics, and corresponding headings under S[TC(R1) sub-group 031.1 and Item 032.01.

Notes:

(a) The European Community is defined in accordance with current membership.

(b) Fish fingers are not distinguished in the statistics of overseas trade from deep-frozen raw fish fillets of all kinds coated with batter or breadcrumbs.

(c) In 1970, chilled and frozen fillets were not separately distinguished, and fillets coated with batter or breadcrumbs were not indentified.

(d) Overseas trade in other frozen foodstuffs can be indentified only partially.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing imports from and exports to the European Community in 1982 and in the first four months of 1983 of acrylic fibres, acrylic tow, spun yarns of acrylic fibres and carpets made wholly or mainly of acrylic fibres showing the weight as well as the value of trade, together with the corresponding figures for 1970, 1975 and 1978, and details of the European Community tariff on these products.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The available information is as follows:

Trade with the rest of the European Community in acrylic textiles
1970 1975 1978 1982 1983 (January to April) Current common external tariff per cent.
I. UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS
(A) Value (£ thousand cif)
8.3 or 8.5
Fibres 1,440 3,247 14,880 13,049 4,687 (see note)
Tow 619 3,189 5,208 8,885 3,499 8.2
Yarn:
(i) wholly of synthetic fibres 682 4,837 n/a n/a n/a
(ii) discontinuous synthetic fibres:
(a) 85 per cent, or more of weight n/a n/a 9,574 25,392 9,303 10.3
(b) less than 85 per cent. of weight n/a n/a 7,404 6,100 2,555 10.3
(B) Weight (tonnes)
Fibres 2,668 4,911 18,226 11,321 3,989
Tow 1,225 5,661 7,594 8,922 3,609
Yarn:
(i) wholly of synthetic fibres 623 2,931 n/a n/a n/a
(ii) discontinuous synthetic fibres:
(a) 85 per cent. or more of weight n/a n/a 4,107 9,597 3,551
(b) less than 85 per cent. of weight n/a n/a 2,358 1,797 647
n. UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS
(A) Value (£ thousand fob)
Yarn:
(i) wholly of synthetic fibres 572 1,883 n/a n/a n/a
(ii) discontinuous synthetic fibres:
(a) 85 per cent. or more of weight n/a n/a 4,454 4,124 1,624
(b) less than 85 per cent. of weight n/a n/a 614 593 331
(B) Weight (tonnes)
Yarn:
(i) wholly of synthetic fibres 612 1,215 n/a n/a n/a
(ii) discontinuous synthetic fibres:
(a) 85 per cent. or more of weight n/a n/a 2,204 1,769 738
(b) less than 85 per cent. of weight n/a n/a 318 208 119

Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise data corresponding to SITC(R2) Items 266.53, 63 and 73 and relevant headings from Items 651.48, 66, 67 and 68 in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics, and to relevant headings from SITC(R1) Items 266.21, 22 and 23 and 651.64.

Notes:

(a) the European Community is defined in accordance with current membership;

(b) acrylic fibre carpets are not separately identified in the statistics of overseas trade;

(c) details by country of exports of acrylic fibres and acrylic tow are withheld from publication for reasons of commercial privacy;

(d) the common external tariff on imports of acrylic fibres is 8.5 per cent. under heading 5601–1500 (fibres not carded or combed, etc.) and 8.3 per cent. under heading 5604–1500 (fibres carded, combed or otherwise prepared for spinning);

(e) n/a indicates not available.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing imports from and exports to the European Community in 1970, 1978, 1982 and the first four months of 1983 of titanium dioxide together with details of the European Community tariff on titanium dioxide and pigments made therefrom.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The available statistics relate to overseas trade in titanium oxides of all kinds, but these are believed in practice to consist largely of titanium dioxide. The information is as follows:

£ thousand
Imports cif Exports fob
1970 526 216
1978 2,198 2,085
1982 2,423 1,711
1983 (January—April) 1,194 614
Current common-external tariff 7.8 per cent

Source: HM Customs and Excise data corresponding to SITC(R2) Item 522.46 in the UK Overseas Trade Statistics and SITC (RI) Item 513.55.

Notes:

(a) the European Community is defined in accordance with current membership.

(b) the common external tariff on pigments based on titanium oxides (UK tariff code numbers 3207–4010 and 4099 ex SITC(R2) Subgroup 533.1) is also currently 7.8 per cent.

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