asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what ways and means he is examining whereby the United Kingdom could reduce its import bill from non-European Economic Community countries including Japan and the United States of America as a way of reducing its levy payments to the European Economic Community budget.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1980, c, 450]: I am not clear what ways and means my hon. Friend has in mind. The barrier faced by imports from non-EEC countries is, as be will be aware, determined by the EEC's common external tariff. The share of non-EEC countries in United Kingdom imports has steadily declined since the United Kingdom joined the Community.