§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 11 January to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell),Official Report, column 156, if he will make a statement as to his Department's analysis of the reasons for the worsening of the trade balance in cars and commercial vehicles.
§ Mr. NeedhamDespite an upturn in the United Kingdom car market during the last two years, continued recession in continental Europe has drastically affected car exports from the UK to those markets. Similarly, the strong growth in the UK commercial vehicle market last year led European manufacturers aggressively to target the UK at a time when their domestic markets have remained in recession. UK car and commercial vehicle manufacturers are well placed to reverse this position as the economy of mainland Europe recovers.