Overseas Trade (Hansard, 24 March 1994)

HC Deb 24 March 1994 vol 240 cc421-6W 421W

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of Austrian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of apparel in SITC 84 and of Austrian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(2) what was the value of Austrian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of electrical machinery not elsewhere specified in SITC 77 and of Austrian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(3) what was the value of Austrian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of iron and steel and of Austrian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(4) what was the value of Austrian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of manufacturers of metal in SITC 69 422W and of Austrian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(5) what was the value of Austrian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of telecommunications equipment and sound recording apparatus and of Austrian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(6) what was the value of Austrian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of specialised machinery in SITC 72 and of Austrian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the prinicpal United Kingdom user industries;
(7) what was the value of Austrian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of power generating machinery and equipment and of Austrian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(8) what was the value of Austrian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of textiles, and so on, in SITC 65 and of Austrian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries.

§ Mr. Needham
The 1992 information can be found in "Commodity Trade Statistics 1992 Series D" Vol. XLII, Nos. 1–09 and 1–12, published by the United Nations, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information on United Kingdom trade with Austria during 1993 is published in "Business Monitor MM20 Overseas Trade Statistics of the UK with Countries outside the European Community", published by CSO, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information on principal products can be obtained from the sources listed above. Information on United Kingdom user industries of goods imported from Austria is not collected.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of Belgian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of manufactures of metal in SITC 69 and that of Belgian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(2) what was the value of Belgian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of iron and steel in SITC 67 and that of Belgian imports from the United Kingdom; what were the corresponding figures based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(3) what was the value of Belgian exports to the United Kingdom of textiles in SITC 65 in 1992 and of Belgian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade 423W returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(4) what was the value of Belgian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of photographic apparatus, optical goods and clocks and watches and of Belgian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(5) what was the value of Belgian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of miscellaneous manufactured products in SITC89 and of Belgian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(6) what was the value of Belgian exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of other transport equipment in SITC79 and of Belgian imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries.

§ Mr. Needham
Detailed information on trade statistics for Belgium and Luxembourg is classified together. The 1992 information can be found in "Commodity Trade Statistics 1992 Series D" Vol. XLII, Nos. 1–09 and 1–04, published by the United Nations, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information on United Kingdom trade with Belgium-Luxembourg during the first three quarters of 1993 is published in "Business Monitor MQ20 Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom with Countries within the European Community", published by CSO, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Owing to the introduction of Intrastat, data across the two years may not be comparable at the detailed product level. Information on principal products can be obtained from the sources listed above. Information on United Kingdom user industries of goods imported from Belgium-Luxembourg is not collected.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of French exports to the United Kingdom manufactures of metal SITC 69 in 1992, and of French imports from the United Kingdom; what were the corresponding figures based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992, and in 1993, to date; and what were the principal products in each case together with the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(2) what was the value of French exports to the United Kingdom of vehicles in 1992, and French imports from the United Kingdom, the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date and the principal products in each case;
(3) what was the value of French exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of electrical machinery in SITC 77 and of French imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(4) what was the value of French exports to the United Kingdom of power generating machinery and equipment in 1992 and that of French imports from the United Kingdom, 424W the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and in 1993 to date, the principal products in each case and the principal United Kingdom user industries.

§ Mr. Needham
The 1992 information can be found in "Commodity Trade Statistics 1992 Series D" Vol. XLII, Nos. 1–01 and 1–09, published by the United Nations, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information on United Kingdom trade with France during the first three quarters of 1993 is published in "Business Monitor MQ20 Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom with Countries within the European Community", published by CSO, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Owing to the introduction of Intrastat, data across the two years may not be comparable at the detailed product level. Information on principal products can be obtained from the sources listed above. Information on United Kingdom user industries of goods imported from France is not collected.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of Finnish exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of iron and steel and of Finnish imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(2) what was the value of Finnish exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of road vehicles and of Finnish imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries.
(3) what was the value of Finnish exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of office machines and automatic data processing equipment in SITC75 and of Finnish imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries;
(4) what was the value of Finnish exports to the United Kingdom in 1992 of telecommunications and sound recording apparatus in SITC76 and of Finnish imports from the United Kingdom; what was the corresponding figure based on the United Kingdom trade returns in 1992 and 1993 to date; what were the principal products in each case; and which were the principal United Kingdom user industries.

§ Mr. Needham
The 1992 information can be found in "Commodity Trade Statistics 1992 Series D" Vol. XLII, Nos. 1–09 and 1–11, published by the United Nations, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information on United Kingdom trade with Finland during 1993 is published in "Business Monitor MM20 Overseas Trade Statistics of the UK with Countries outside the European Community", published by CSO, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information on principal products can be obtained from the sources listed above. Information on United Kingdom user industries of goods imported from Finland is not collected.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom current-weighted 425W share of the volume of exports of manufactures by the main manufacturing countries between 1973 and 1990; and if he will make a statement on the changes.

§ Mr. Needham
The information is not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions in the last five years he has knowingly provided incomplete information in answers to parliamentary questions other than on grounds of disproportionate cost; and on what subjects.

§ Mr. Heseltine
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Tuesday 15 March 1994,Official Report, column 645.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish for 1970, 1973, 1979, 1985 and each year from 1989 exports by each of the main manufacturing countries of textiles, mechanical engineering products, and road motor vehicles on a comparable basis to that used in compiling the tables in the article published in the 18 November 1966 issue of the Board of Trade journal, entitled "United Kingdom and World Exports of Manufactures in the Past Decade."

§ Mr. Needham
No.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the changes since 1973 in(a) the United Kingdom share of the volume of exports of manufactures by the main manufacturing countries, (b) the United Kingdom share of manufacturing output by these countries, (c) the volume of imports of manufactures from the rest of the EC as a ratio against United Kingdom output, (d) the rest of the EEC import penetration of the United Kingdom market for motor cars, (e) United Kingdom manufacturing output and w manufacturing employment.

§ Mr. Needham
The information on the United Kingdom share of the volume of exports by the main manufacturing countries to 1991 can be readily derived from table E1 of "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" annual supplement 1992, published by CSO, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. More timely information is not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
The information on the United Kingdom share of manufacturing output by the main manufacturing countries can be readily derived from the information contained in the OECD "Main Economic Indicators" database which can be accessed from the Library of the House, and from the OECD publications "National Accounts Vol. II" and "Main Economic Indicators", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
The information on the United Kingdom volume of imports of manufactures as a ratio against United Kingdom output post-1987 can be readily derived from data available on the Central Statistical Office database, which can be accessed via the Library of the House. Comparable pre-1988 information is not readily available and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
The information on European Union import penetration of United Kingdom motor car market can be readily derived from "Motor Industry of Great Britain—World 426W Automotive Statistics", published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
The information on United Kingdom manufacturing output and employment can be readily derived from data available on the Central Statistical Office database, which can be accessed via the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what awards, or other forms of recognition, are made by his Department to individuals and companies from manufacturing industry.

§ Mr. Heseltine
The Department of Trade and Industry does not give any specific awards to individuals and companies from manufacturing industry.
It does, however, run the annual competition, SMART, for small and medium-sized enterprises of fewer than 50 employees and provides 180 awards of up to £45,000 each in the form of grants to help develop new products and processes. A second phase of the competition is also open to SMART winners and offers each of them up to a further £60,000 of grant support.
In addition, the Department co-sponsors many awards managed by private sector organisations; most are also open to the service sector. Examples of these awards are the export award for smaller businesses, the United Kingdom quality award and the best factory award.
The Department is also responsible for the work of the Queen's Awards Office, though recommendations to the Palace are made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.