§ Sir John Farrasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by how much Japanese leather imports into the United Kingdom have increased in the past four years; and whether he attributes this rise to any particular factor.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOver the past four years Japanese leather imports have increased by £2.7 million a value of £25.6 million in 1985. Over the same period import penetration of leather and leather goods into the United Kingdom has remained around 45 per cent.: the Japanese share of this amounts to 0.5 per cent. This indicates that although Japan's imports have increased in value terms,404W its share of the United Kingdom market has remained stable. The rise can largely be attributed to the increase in the world price of leather.