asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many British cars were exported to Russia in 1978; what percentage this was of the Russian car market; how many cars were imported from Russia; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(2) how many British cars were exported to Italy in 1978; what percentage this was of the Italian car market; how many cars were imported from Italy; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(3) how many British cars were exported to West Germany in 1978; what percentage this was of the German car market; how many cars were imported from West Germany; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(4) how many British cars were exported to the United States of America in 1978; what percentage this was of the American car market; how many cars were imported from the United States of America; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(5) how many British cars were exported to France in 1978; what percentage this was of the French car market; how many French cars were imported; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(6) how many British cars were exported to Sweden in 1978; what percentage this was of the Swedish car market; how many cars were imported from Sweden; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(7) how many British cars were exported to Spain in 1978; what percentage this was of the Spanish car market; how many cars were imported from Spain; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(8) how many British cars were exported to South Africa in 1978; what percentage this was of the South African car market; and how many cars were imported from South Africa;(9) how many British cars were collectively exported to Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and East Germany in 1978; what percentage this was of their collective car market; how many cars were imported from those countries; and what help he is giving to the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to those countries in the current year;(10) how many British cars were exported to Yugoslavia and Romania in 1978; what percentage this was of their car market; how many cars were imported from them; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to those countries in the current year;(11) how many British cars were exported to South America in 1978; what percentage this was of the South American car market; how many cars were imported from South America; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(12) how many British cars were exported to Belgium in 1978; what percentage this was of the Belgian car market; how many cars were imported from Belgium; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that country in the current year;(13) how many British cars were exported to Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Egypt in 1978; what percentage this was of their combined car market; how many cars were imported from these countries; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to those countries in the current year;(14) how many British cars were exported to Africa, excluding the North African states and South Africa, in 1978; what percentage this was of that car market; how many cars were imported from that area; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to that area in the current year;(15) how many British cars were exported to Japan in 1978; what percentage this is of the Japanese car market; how many cars were imported from Japan; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to Japan in the current year.
, pursuant to his replies [Official Report, 12 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 408–10, and Official Report, 15 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 614–15], gave the following information:Figures of the numbers of cars exported from the United Kingdom and imported into the United Kingdom in 1978 are given in the table below. Corresponding information on the penetration of the various overseas markets is not available. There is relatively little comparable information of this kind readily available. An approximate measure of penetration is provided by the ratio of the number of United Kingdom new cars exported to the number of registrations of new cars. This measure is only approximate because of,
inter alia, timing and coverage differences in the figures of exports and registrations; however, the estimates are considered to provide a reasonably broad guide to penetration levels. The estimates are given, where available, in the table below, in respect of 1977, the latest year for which figures of new car registrations are available.
On the final part of the questions, during the current year my Department will continue to provide the car industry with information about business opportunities and longer-term prospects arising in overseas markets including those to which my hon. Friend has referred. We shall also continue to monitor foreign regulations likely to affect our exports to particular markets and make representations on behalf of the industry when appropriate. Specifically, we have supported, or expect to support, the industry in its overseas marketing efforts in 1979 by assisting its participation in international
| UK TRADE IN CARS, 1978(1) | |||
Numbers of Exports to
| Numbers of Imports from
| Approximate UK(2) share of overseas car markets in 1977 | |
| Russia | 47 | 17998 | N.A. |
| Italy | 8959 | 102036 | ¾ per cent |
| West Germany | 18178 | 209871 | ½ per cent |
| USA | 56193 | 2332 | ½ per cent |
| France | 15304 | 149723 | ¾ per cent |
| Sweden | 1489 | 28080 | 2 per cent |
| Spain | 294 | 26744 | less than 1/10 per cent |
| South Africa | 45520 | 117 | 19 per cent |
| Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and East Germany | 383 | 15167 | N.A. |
| Yugoslavia and Romania | 787 | 2 | N.A. |
| South America | 4130 | 18 | N.A. |
| Belgium/Luxembourg | 11519 | 73524 | 2½ per cent |
| Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Egypt | 5428 | 14 | N.A. |
| Africa (excluding North African states and South Africa) | 14395 | 25 | N.A. |
| Japan | 3393 | 168192 | less than 1/10 per cent |
(1) Source: UK Overseas Trade Statistics. SITC (REV2) Code 781.0, covers new and used cars.
(2) Source: Approximate estimates, defined as the ratio of UK exports of new cars to registrations of new cars.
UK exports of new cars: Overseas Trade Statistics
Registrations of new cars: United Nations Monthly Bulletin of Statistics.
N.A.—Not Available.