§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish his assessment of the economic effects of the United Kingdom's membership of the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. EggarOver the period 1984–85, the countries of the Commonwealth accounted for some 10 per cent. of the United Kingdom's external trade, took 39 per cent. of net new outward investment by United Kingdom companies and contributed 38 per cent. of the earnings from outward direct investment by United Kingdom companies. Over the same period, the United Kingdom ran an annual trade surplus of £1.1 billion with the countries of the Commonwealth.