Imports

Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Industry – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 May 1991.

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Photo of Hon. Tim Sainsbury Hon. Tim Sainsbury , Hove

The Department's policies aim to foster the competitiveness of British industry.

Photo of Mr William McKelvey Mr William McKelvey , Kilmarnock and Loudoun

All to our loss in Kilmarnock. Is the Minister not aware that, since 1979, there has been a massive one third increase in import penetration? The import penetration on office equipment and processing data is colossal at 95 per cent. The import penetration on machine tools is huge at 52 per cent. and that for clothing, textiles and footware is 40 per cent. The Minister must tell me what to tell my constituents of Kilmarnock. How can they have some hope for the future when their economy is based on industry?

Photo of Hon. Tim Sainsbury Hon. Tim Sainsbury , Hove

I am glad to note that the latest figures show export volume up 3 per cent. and import volume down 2 per cent. on the equivalent quarter last year.