asked the Secretary of State for Trade what factors inhibit, or are likely to inhibit, the export of British manufactured valves to other EEC countries.

I am not aware of anything, apart from purely commercial considerations and standard requirements, inhibiting such exports. After much detailed work by the European Standards Committee, in which the United Kingdom played an active rôle, there is prospect now of agreement on harmonised European standards in this sector which will help our exporters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of exports from British valve manufacturers and the value of imported values during each of the last three years.

Following is the information for industrial valves: