HC Deb 09 May 1985 vol 78 cc484-5W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list details of trade between the United Kingdom and Vietnam in each of the past five years to the latest date.

Mr. Channon

The value of British trade with Vietnam for each of the last five years for which complete annual figures are available is as follows:

United Kingdom exports £ million United Kingdom imports £ million
1980 15.2
1981 1.2 0.1
1982 0.9 0.1
1983 0.9 0.6
1984 1.8 1.2
*1985 0.3 0.1
* Two months January and February.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to improve trade between Her Majesty's Government and Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Channon

Her Majesty's Government would welcome improved trade relations with Vietnam. The chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board's South-East Asia trade advisory group paid a fact-finding visit to Vietnam last autumn. But in present circumstances the prospect of increasing trade with Vietnam does not seem high.