HC Deb 25 June 1990 vol 175 cc25-6W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement outlining the steps which are currently being taken by his Department to ensure that exports by the apparel, knitting and textile industries do not face unfair barriers erected by other countries.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 20 June 1990]: The question of unfair barriers to exports of all categories of goods is one of the subjects for decision in the current Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations. The Government supply information on barriers which we would like to see removed to the Commission, which conducts negotiations on behalf of member states. The Community's aim is to achieve a reduction by all parties in their tariff and non-tariff barriers.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has concerning the level and value of exports of textile and clothing products from the United Kingdom in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what percentage these figures are of those for the same months in the previous year.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 20 June 1990]: The available figures are as follows:

United Kingdom exports of textiles and clothing by value
1988–89 £ million
1988
April 259.3
May 251.0
June 276.8
July 276.6
August 271.5
September 323.7
October 313.9
November 325.8
December 277.1
1989
January 234.1
February 273.4
March 321.7

1989–90 £ million 1989–90 percentage of 1988–89
1989
April 255.4 98
May 290.2 116
June 289.5 105
July 306.2 111
August 284.0 105
September 353.7 109
October 371.4 118
November 349.7 107
December 320.6 116
1990
January 277.8 119
February 327.7 120
March 377.8 117

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics (CSO).

Note: Textiles and clothing is defined as divisions 65 and 84 of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).