§ Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to take action under consumer safety legislation in respect of skin bleaching cosmetics containing hydroquinine, details of which have been supplied to him by Lambeth borough council.
§ Mr. FletcherThe Laboratory of the Government Chemist is testing the skin lighteners. If they are found to contain more than the 2 per cent. permitted under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations the suppliers will be prosecuted. I am also having those brands not properly
United Kingdom Trade in Chemicals and Related Products (a) Exports (£ million fob)
(b) Imports (£ million cif)
(c) Crude Surplus (£ million)
(d) Exports as Percentage of Imports
(e) Change in (d) from previous year
1979 4,911 3,402 1,509 144 -5% 1980 5,286 3,147 2,139 168 +17% 1981 5,550 3,597 1,953 154 -8% 1982 6,119 4,179 1,940 146 -5% 1983 6,933 5,119 1,814 135 -8% Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics, Tables II and V, SITC(R2) Section 5.
Note: The crude surplus is the balance of exports valued fob less imports valued cif.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was, as a percentage, the total rise in output of the United Kingdom chemical industry in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. FletcherThe index of the output of the chemical industry, class 25 of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980, is published in table 7.1 of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics", copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the total capital investment which has taken place within the United Kingdom chemical industry in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. TrippierAvailable information is given in the following table:
Investment* in the United Kingdom chemical industry† £ million at constant 1980 prices 1979 1,182 1980 994 1981 749 1982 687 1983 740 * Excluding assets leased from the financial industries. † Class 25 of Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1980).