§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the approximate cost in sterling and other currencies, respectively, of carrying imports and exports of the United Kingdom in the years 1979 and 1989 at actual and weighted prices, together with the percentage of cost in sterling for both years.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe actual costs of carrying imports to the United Kingdom in 1979 and 1989 were £2,349550W million and £2,992 million respectively. No information is available for the carriage of United Kingdom exports. In 1979 freight costs accounted for 5 per cent. of the value of goods imported as declared to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. In 1989 the percentage was 2.5 per cent.