HC Deb 05 March 1985 vol 74 cc447-8W
Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the United Kingdom's crude trade

United Kingdom crude trade trade balance
Value £ million
1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 *1984
Hong Kong
Textiles and clothing -323 -322 -365 -362 -367 -467
Manufactures -271 -216 -281 -174 -275 -413
Taiwan
Textiles and clothing -33 -34 -44 -55 -60 -65
Manufactures -115 -137 -202 -209 -337 -443
South Korea
Textiles and clothing -94 -86 -137 -133 -111 -146
Manufactures -116 -134 -165 -147 -270 -226
Macao
Textiles and clothing -12 -15 -19 -18 -18 -25
Manufactures -12 -15 -20 -17 -23 -40
Association of South East Asian Nations
Textiles and clothing -34 -36 -50 -63 -52 -58
Manufactures +375 +474 +421 +552 +529 +360
Source: Data corresponding to SITC/R2 sections 5 to 8 for manufactures; and for textiles and clothing SITC/R2 divisions 65 and 84 (less group 848), groups 266 and 267 and sub-group 268.7 (part) in the UK Overseas Trade Statistics.
Notes: Crude balance is calculated as UK exports (fob) less UK imports (cif).
* Provisional.

Sir John Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) by how much imports of Portuguese knickers, pants and briefs, MIFA category 13, exceeded the permitted quota in the period 1 October to 31 December 1984; and what action he proposes to take as a result;

(2) if the voluntary restraint arrangement to curtail the importation of Portuguese knickers, pants and briefs, MFA category 13, to 1.6 million pairs in the period from 1 October to 31 December 1984 was observed.

Mr. Channon

[pursuant to his reply, 1 March 1985, c. 321]: There are no formal quota arrangements on textile and clothing trade with Portugal. There is a voluntary restraint arrangement, but this does not cover category 13. Portugal did, however, give informal assurances about its exports of certain products, including MFA category 13, for the last quarter of 1984. Import figures for this period for category 13 show imports of 5,103,000 pieces. This level of imports has caused serious concern. I have written on this matter to the Portuguese authorities and I have raised it personally with the European Commission which is to hold early discussions with Portuguese officials.

balance in textiles and clothing and the overall trade balance in manufactures with Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Macao in 1979 to 1984;

(2) what was the United Kingdom's crude trade balance in textiles and clothing and the overall trade balance in manufacturers with the Association of South East Asian Nation countries in the years 1979 to 1984.

Mr. Trippier

[pursuant to his reply, 26 February 1985, c. 116]: The information is as follows: