asked the Minister for Trade when next he plans to meet the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the viability of airline operators.

I meet the chairman of the authority at intervals to discuss this and other subjects.

When the Minister next meets the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, will he draw to his attention the extreme reservations—indeed, the violent oppostion—expressed by the Association of British Travel Agents to the CAA licensing Freddie Laker Holidays? Will he accept that this concern is expressed by an organisation whose main function is to ensure that holidaymakers are not robbed by various cheapjack outfits and to ensure that such outfits do not start up in future?

I am absolutely certain that Mr. Dent, as chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, is all too well aware of the views of other travel agents and tour operators.

Does my hon. Friend recognise that many small, independent airlines have gone through the recent recession without subsidies, grants or any other assistance and have done very well during that time? What steps will he take to persuade the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, on a continuing basis, to be more reasonable in the authority's approach to granting licences to these small airlines?

The chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority is, at this very moment, undertaking a review of his organisation. No doubt the extremely important question that my hon. Friend has put today is one that the chairman will be considering very closely.

If the Minister is anxious to help the viability of British airlines, will he stop trying to make British Airways sell off the profitable parts of its business? Will he look again at this apparent madness of deregulation in the British air industry, which already has excess capacity? Specifically, what is his assessment of the deregulation on the Glasgow route where all the signs are that, yet again, one airline is being helped at the expense of others, with the result that excess capacity is arising and that, sooner or later, more jobs will be lost and the airport industry will be made more insecure?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question is "No, Sir". With regard to the second part, the British Midland route from Glasgow to Heathrow has been extremely successful. I have not met a single passenger, as I visit Scotland rather more than the hon. Gentleman—and who does not think that the Government's decision is extremely wise.

Does my hon. Friend recall that it is now almost two years since his predecessor said that, in consultation with the CAA, he was hoping to resolve all the problems about the rules for flying balloons? Will my hon. Friend take extraordinary steps, with his real zeal and enthusiasm, to sort out this long-standing problem, the uncertainty over which has put more than 200 Southend jobs at risk?

My hon. Friend raises an extremely important problem. In arguing for a relaxation in the rules governing balloons and, indeed, banners, he is raising a vital matter for many sections of British industry. I can assure him that I and my colleagues in the Department of the Environment are giving urgent consideration to this matter.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will meet the General Council of British Shipping to discuss the draft European Community competition regulation on loyalty arrangements.

Yes, Sir. I am writing to both the general council and to the British Shippers Council to invite them to discuss further the Government's proposals regarding the regulation.

Has my hon. Friend seen the report in today's Financial Times that shipping faces its toughest year for 50 years? Does he agree that to proceed with a scheme to reduce the loyalty arrangements from 100 per cent. to only 70 per cent. at the present time is likely to deprive conference lines particularly of their high value cargoes, leading in the end to a further reduction in our Merchant Navy, to the detriment of both our trade and the defence of the nation?

My hon. Friend does well to draw attention to the extremely difficult times through which our Merchant Navy is passing. However, I remind him that there is no compulsion on shippers to reduce their loyalty arrangements to 70 per cent. If shipowners give good value for money they can certainly keep the 100 per cent. arrangement.

What will the Minister tell the GCBS about the state of British shipping and what the Government intend to do about it? What other country is standing by and doing nothing to protect or help its merchant fleet? Our fleet was once the pride of the nation. What will the Minister do to stem the job losses and the outflow of shipping orders?

I shall tell the hon. Gentleman what I am doing, not merely what I am going to do. Last week I saw the GCBS to discuss the matter and I also saw the National Union of Seamen. Tomorrow I shall be seeing the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association and I shall see the radio operators later this week. When we have had a chance to consider all their views we shall put together our own views on what should be done about an extremely difficult situation, which does not affect only the British fleet, but is a result of the world wide recession.

Is my hon. Friend aware that those of us who have made a lifetime study of the shipping industry and have always felt that the advantages of competition are very strong believe, nevertheless, that the EC's doctrinaire attitude on the issue is misguided and that the conference system and loyalty arrangements have much to be said for them, from the point of view not only of the industry, but, in the long term, of the consumer? Will my hon. Friend take the toughest possible line with the EC?

My hon. Friend states a widely held view. It is shared by the shipowners, but the shippers have a different view and it is in an attempt to reconcile the two views that I am calling a meeting with both groups.

Does not the Minister recognise that his "hands off" approach is not satisfying even his right hon. and hon. Friends who are ideologically committed to competition? When will the Minister tell the shipping industry that he will stop talking and start acting?

A useful prerequisite of action is a discussion of the present situation. I do not think that anyone could do more than I am doing by consulting all the seafaring unions and the GCBS.

asked the Minister for Trade what is his present forecast for the balance of trade for 1983, indicating separately his forecasts for the balance on invisible trade, visible trade in oil and visible trade in non-oil goods.

asked the Minister for Trade what is his present forecast for the balance of visible and of invisible trade for 1983.

It is not the practice to forecast at this level of detail. Such a forecast would be subject to too many uncertainties.

It will be obvious that I cannot thank the Minister for that particularly unhelpful reply. Is not the Minister seeking to disguise the likelihood that Britain will become a net importer of manufactured goods? Is not that a grave prospect for this country in our present economic crisis, and will the hon. and learned Gentleman tell us whether he regards the recent 12 per cent. devaluation of sterling as being of assistance to our seriously deteriorating trade balance?

I would not care to forecast the next year's figures with any confidence. The forecasts range from minus 0·6 per cent. from Cambridge, as one might expect, to plus 3·5 per cent. from the London Business School. I prefer to leave astrology to the Opposition.

Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that it is misleading to draw too detailed a conclusion from an analysis of our trading performance, but that the overall balance is important? Does he also agree that our trade surplus has been one of the brightest spots of our economic performance over the past year?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for reminding the House that it is likely that for 1982, as in 1981 and 1980, we shall have had record surpluses on our current account.

Does the Minister's coyness about giving figures have anything to do with the fact that the surplus about which he has spoken rests solely on the oil surplus and that that is the only cloak for the Government's nakedness? Is he content with the fact that manufacturing production has fallen to its lowest level for 15 years and is 18 per cent. below the level at the time when the Government took office? Do the Government accept that their policies may have something to do with that?

No, I do not. I remind the right hon. and learned Gentleman that our service industries make a considerable contribution to the surplus on our current account and that about 11·5 million of our fellow countrymen are employed in those industries.

Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that the proposals announced by the Leader of the Opposition at the weekend would result only in this country being insulated from its most important trading partners, which would lead to a deterioration in our economic prospects and more unemployment?

My hon. Friend is right to remind the House that the Leader of the Opposition stated at the weekend that the present free trade system is a major obstacle to world recovery. Apart from his cavalier disregard of the interests of British exporters and consumers, the right hon. Gentleman's memory presumably extends back to the 1930s, when retaliatory protectionist measures of the type that would inevitably follow from his policies resulted in a drop in world trade of about 40 per cent. in three years, with disastrous unemployment consequences.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will state the actual and estimated figures of United Kingdom imports from, and exports to, the rest of the European Community of manufactures for the year 1982.

In the 11 months January to November 1982 United Kingdom exports of manufactures to other EC countries totalled £12·7 billion and imports were £l7·2 billion. Figures for the whole year will not be available until the publication of the December trade figures.

As the figures for the whole year will be even worse than the deficit of £5 billion in manufactured goods that the Minister has announced, is it not clear that the forecasts of positive and substantial benefits to trade, which were made in the Government White Paper on the European Community in 1971, are proving to be wrong and that the "substantial" benefits are negative? Does that not mean that the burden of the CAP is not offset by any advantage and that we should negotiate to leave the Common Market at once?

No such conclusion should be drawn from the hon. Gentleman's spurious analysis. He conveniently overlooks the considerable surpluses in our trade in invisibles and oil with the EC.

Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that as the Community covers a range of trades it is unlikely that singling out one item would provide a good or bad reason for membership?

I agree with my hon. Friend that the analysis of the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) was extremely limited and misleading.

Does the Minister agree that this may not be the appropriate time for the Government to embark on staff cuts of 25 per cent. at the British Overseas Trade Board, apparently with a view to ending the sponsoring of outward trade missions? Does he believe that in such circumstances British exporters can compete with foreign producers whose Governments do not bear their misfortunes with such fortitude and who regard export drives as their business?

I am satisfied that, as our trade figures demonstrate, we give adequate support to British exporters.

Is not the coverage of imports by exports very much better with the EC than with any of our other industrial trading partners? Can my hon. and learned Friend explain how the establishment of a free trade area, instead of a common market with the EC, would help to resolve our problems?

I am entirely unable to follow the consequences of the policies on the EC apparently propounded by the Labour party.

In what way, if any, has our total trade in manufactured goods benefited as a result of entry into the EC, and in what way will it benefit with continued membership?

I am unable to understand why the hon. Gentleman should overlook, as many of his hon. Friends have, our trade in oil products and services which give—

Jobs. That is the answer.

—an entirely different picture. I remind the House of the figure that I gave in reply to an earlier question, when I said that about 11·5 million of our countrymen are employed in service industries.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will introduce legislation to give a right to doorstep buyers to return goods within three days of the purchase thereof, and thereupon to be reimbursed of the purchase price.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will introduce legislation to protect consumers from doorstep selling.

At present a person who signs a hire purchase agreement on the doorstep can cancel the agreement up to three days after receiving a copy of the agreement through the post. I am proposing shortly to lay an order extending this to five days for all credit sales.

I welcome that announcement, belated though happy, but ask the Minister whether he will now extend the rules, by new legislation, extending cooling-off periods for those who buy from doorstep salesmen for cash, bearing in mind that evil minority of such salesmen who, by confidence tricks and pressures, cause people to enter into cash sales on their own doorsteps.

I am glad that the hon. and learned Gentleman welcomes the earlier announcement. However, the majority of abuses are in hire purchase and not in cash sales. That is why I am taking action to tighten up hire purchase agreements.

Does the Minister agree that the abuse of consumer production law with regard to the purchases of cash goods from doorstep salesmen is considerable and appalling? Will he bring about some changes, and have some discussions with crime prevention officers about one type of gross abuse by doorstep salesmen—the selling of security goods such as burglar alarms, often to very gullible purchasers?

I am prepared to look into this matter. As I said to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) on 20 January, I am looking at doorstep selling in the general context of fairer trading We are having discussions in Europe on a directive that would include cash sales. We are of the view that Britain has much to contribute to the views on doorstep selling, and I shall be watching the directive carefully.

asked the Minister for Trade what recent representations he has received about the import of counterfeit products from Taiwan; and what further action he intends taking.

In the past six months we have received only one direct representation about imports to the United Kingdom of counterfeit products from Taiwan. We urge British companies to secure protection for their products by registering their patents, trademarks and designs in Taiwan. Although like most Governments we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the authorities there are fully aware of our concern. Stricter measures were announced in Taiwan in August 1981 to govern trademark offences. Recently much stiffer penalties for convicted offenders have also been announced in Taiwan. In addition, my Department will soon be setting up an anti-counterfeiting unit to strengthen its handling of such problems.

When will the Minister take effective action to deal with complaints from Smith and Wellstood, which recently won a victory in Holland in its efforts to stop the sale of cheap Taiwanese imitations of its solid fuel heating stoves, only to find that the counterfeit stoves could still be sold in other countries such as Belgium? In view of the jobs involved in Bonnybridge in my constituency, will the Minister tell the Taiwanese authorities that if this malpractice does not stop he will impose a trade boycott on Taiwan?

As I said, we do not maintain diplomatic representation in Taiwan, but if the hon. Gentleman feels that any particular details in the Smith and Wellstood case—which is well known to my Department—need further consideration, I should be delighted to receive him and representatives of the company.

Has my hon. and learned Friend seen the report in The Times on Saturday of the confiscation in Nigeria of millions of pirated books, including many English titles, allegedly from Taiwan? Is it not the case that this is causing loss to the British book publishing industry of about £40 million to £50 million a year? If so, will my hon. and learned Friend inquire into this and do something about it?

It is because of the concern that both I and my hon. Friend the Minister for Consumer Affairs feel about this that we are setting up the anti-counterfeiting unit.

Is the Minister satisfied that the measures taken both in Taiwan and by his Department will stamp out, for example, the type of counterfeiting that a group of Members of Parliament found, when worsted cloth was being labelled "Made in Huddersfield"? Will the hon. and learned Gentleman endeavour to do something to stamp that out?

The House will recognise that it is not easy for us to stamp out counterfeiting of this type in foreign countries. However, our aim is certainly that it should not penetrate to the United Kingdom market.

While I accept that counterfeiting can be a serious problem, may I point out that lack of knowledge is also a serious problem? In view of his reply to question 6, will my hon. and learned Friend continue pressing his colleagues in the European Community to establish a uniform system of origin marking, with proper policing, so that this gives some security to the producers of textiles, and also gives consumers a knowledge of what they are supposed to be buying?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that origin marking can be used as a means of preventing the free circulation of goods inside the European Community. Subject to that reservation, we are in favour of introducing such a system into the United Kingdom.

Is this not just the type of instance where international regulation of trade should be at its best? With regard to what the hon. and learned Gentleman said a few moments ago about free trade, is not the present free trade system based on the assumption that all Governments alike should renounce responsibility for their respective economies and leave them to the free market forces? Is not that precisely what has brought about the present world recession, about which the Government are always talking?

I am afraid that the right hon. and learned Gentleman has not applied himself long enough or deeply enough to this problem. If he had he would realise that free trade is not incompatible, for example, with our own trade mark and copyright legislation.

asked the Minister of Trade if he will hold local consultations concerning the level of aircraft noise in Ealing and west London; and if he will make a statement.

No, Sir. Adequate consultation facilities already exist through the Heathrow airport consultative committee. I am satisfied that the interests of all those affected by aircraft noise in Ealing and west London are adequately represented.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the continual and severe suffering of my constituents from aircraft noise, including military and civil helicopter noise and pollution? May I ask him to use all his best efforts to reduce it? Is my hon. Friend aware of any plans for an expanded use of Northolt airport for civil aircraft? Is he aware that the community would be opposed to such an expansion?

With regard to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, his constituents could not have a doughtier fighter in their cause than himself. I shall certainly do everything that I can. With regard to Northolt, that is a question for my right hon. and hon Friends at the Ministry of Defence, but I can tell my hon. Friend that consultations are going on between them and the British Airports Authority and its chairman, Mr. Payne, with regard to business aviation.

Could not the Government at least assist the people of west London by not building a fifth terminal at Heathrow airport?

The right hon. Gentleman has been a member of the House long enough to know that it would be improper for me to make any further comments about the fifth terminal at Heathrow while the present inquiry continues.

Can my hon. Friend confirm that, with the introduction of the Boeing 757 into service next month, another step will be taken in the direction of diminution of noise in the vicinity of Heathrow?

That is a good point. There is no doubt that the newer generations of aircraft are much quieter. This will have a profound effect on the problems mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway).

asked the Minister for Trade if he will estimate the annual value of the illegal trade in video cassettes.

As my right hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir J. Eden) said in moving his own Bill last Friday, the trade and the British Videogram Association estimate the total retail value of pirate video cassettes sold in the United Kingdom at about £100 million a year. This represents, in terms of numbers of pre-recorded video tapes, about 65 per cent. of the market.

Is my hon. Friend aware that one company alone—Thorn-EMI—on its own reckoning is losing between £15 million and £20 million of business a year? In the light of that information, was not the Second Reading of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill on Friday most welcome? Will the Government do all they can to ensure that the Bill has a speedy passage through both Houses of Parliament?

Yes. The House, the trade and the whole country owe my right hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West a considerable debt. In general, the Government very much support the approach that my right hon. Friend adopted in that Bill.

Although I accept what the Minister said about the need for the strongest possible enforcement of the law against the pirating of video cassettes, does accept that in the longer term the trade can assist itself by ensuring that on the whole, pre-recorded items are sold on video discs, which cannot be copied, rather than on video cassettes?

In this area I am afraid that making any judgment about the swift advance of technology is extremely rash. That may be the position at the moment, although I cannot confirm it or otherwise. But we have to be aware that in few other areas is technology moving as fast as it is here. However, the hon. Gentleman's comments will be taken into consideration.

Is my hon. Friend aware that last Friday I visited one of the largest distributors of video cassettes in the country, which is situated in my constituency? This new firm was started by four young men aged about 25. It has a turnover of about £4 million and now employs nearly 50 people. Is my hon. Friend aware that if it were not for this piracy and illegal action it could employ many more than that number?

My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. Indeed, I can add to his experience. I understand that in the last two years alone video cassettes have given employment to about 20,000 people. This is just the kind of advanced technology that the House and the country most want to support.

As the Minister knows, the Opposition supported the Bill last Friday. What discussions have there been between Trade Ministers, the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police about enforcing the law? As the House recognises, the trade in illegal video cassettes is not far removed from other forms of organised crime.

The hon. Gentleman is correct. We have been having close discussions with the Home Office, and these will be reflected in our approach to the Bill introduced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West when it reaches its Committee stage.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards trade relations with Hong Kong following his recent visit there.

My visit was designed to reinforce the Government's policy of maintaining and improving trade relations with Hong Kong.

Is the Minister aware that increasingly in the next 10 or 15 years Hong Kong's magnificent trading performance will be overshadowed by political uncertainties? Will he make sure that that is in his mind and those of his officials when dealing with Hong Kong's trade practices? Will the hon. and learned Gentleman also make sure that the People's Republic of China is aware that it could well destroy a goose that lays golden eggs for it if it created a mood of uncertainty about Hong Kong?

It is this Government's intention to maintain and promote the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

Has the Minister read the report of the Adam Smith Institute which predicts that 20 per cent. of world trade will go through free ports such as Hong Kong by 1985? Since there are no free ports in the United Kingdom, is the hon. and learned Gentleman not worried that the working party set up by the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been hijacked by Customs and Excise? What action is he or the Secretary of State taking to make sure that the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat), who is in favour of free ports, is not summarily kicked off that working party?

No such outcome is likely. The question is a matter primarily for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but I can assure the House that there will be a useful and constructive input from my Department and, I am sure, from my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State.

asked the Minister for Trade what is the percentage change in the seasonally adjusted volume of manufactured imports and of manufactured exports since May 1979 to the latest available date.

Between May 1979 and November 1982, imports of manufactures rose by 2 per cent. and exports fell by 10 per cent.

Since joining the Common Market we have lost 2 million manufacturing jobs, and the position has deteriorated particularly since 1979. What is the Department doing to make contact with the Department of Industry and the Treasury to try to revive our manufacturing sector?

The hon. Gentleman overlooks, for example, the fact that our unit labour costs are rising by only about 5½ per cent., which is far below that of our major competitors. Productivity is up by 13 or 14 per cent. since 1980 and, again, is rising faster than that of our continental competitors. I am confident of British industry's ability to acquit itself well.

Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that one of the sadnesses is that our traditional industries have declined? I exclude from that statement the Scotch whisky industry, which has had a remarkable export record. If all the other traditional industries had adapted to meet the changing demands of consumers abroad, they could probably have had a similar record.

I am happy to pay tribute to the remarkable export record of the Scotch whisky industry.

In view of those devastating figures, do the Government now acknowledge any responsibility for the fact that last year showed a total of more than 12,000 company liquidations—the worst year ever recorded? Is this the Government who fought the last election on the promise to care for small businesses? How does it accord wth the promise of the Prime Minister at Darlington during the last election campaign, when she said that the Labour party

"are the party of unemployment. We are the party of opportunity"?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman should cast his mind back and note that every Finance Bill introduced by this Government has done something for small businesses and the formation of new enterprises.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list the 12 countries that took most British exports in the most recent year for which figures are available.

In the 12 months to November, the United States of America was the biggest market for United Kingdom exports, followed by the Federal Republic of Germany, Netherlands, France, the Irish Republic, Belgium and Luxembourg, Italy, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, South Africa and Switzerland.

Will my hon. and learned Friend confirm that all the European Community countries except Greece and Denmark are included in that list? Is there any guarantee that we should still be able to sell as much to those countries if we were outside the EC?

There is no guarantee whatever. Nor is there any guarantee that, for example, American non-oil investment would continue at its present rate in the United Kingdom rather than in the continental countries of the European Community.

Was it a direct objective of Government policy that Britain should become a net importer of manufactured goods, or is it just an accident?

It was not a direct element of the United Kingdom's Government's policy. But I remind the hon. Gentleman, as I have reminded the House in other contexts, that we are a net exporter of oil and of services.

asked the Minister for Trade what is the latest available monthly figure for the United Kingdom balance of trade and the corresponding figure 12 months ago.

The current account of the balance of payments in November 1982 was in surplus by £700 million, compared with £108 million in November 1981.

Will the Minister confirm that that increase is due primarily to our increased oil revenue and that during the past 12 months the balance in manufacturing industry has declined by one-third?

No, I will not confirm that, but I will confirm that the increase was due to rather low figures in November 1982. Perhaps that provides a rather unusual answer to the hon. Gentleman's question, which he may not have expected.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman accept that there is a difference between planned trade and the unilateral introduction of protectionist policies, which are the last stand of the free trader?

I have never understood either of those two formulations, which I suspect come from the fevered minds of those in the Labour research department.

As the Opposition seem keen to remind my hon. and learned Friend of past events, may I draw his attention to the 1964 general election and the fact that the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) fought it on the slogan of "An £800 million deficit"? Will my hon. and learned Friend ask the Opposition what they would produce as a slogan for a Government who have been able to produce a £700 million surplus in one year?

I suspect that their slogan would be a 30 per cent. devaluation.

Is the Minister aware that, in spite of his bluster from the Dispatch Box today, the CBI is forecasting a fall in new orders, particularly in new export orders? Against that background, and of evidence from firms that have improved their efficiency, cut their costs to the bone and paid wage increases below the rate of inflation, how does he expect British exporting manufacturing industry to survive?

As I said at an earlier point in these exchanges, I am not here to trade forecasts with the Opposition Benches, because there are many and various such forecasts. I have noted the CBI's figures. I have also noted the Industry Act figures for November. The House will recall that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has access to the best possible information, thinks that possibly the Industry Act figures in November were a little gloomy.

Is it not right that the CBI figures were put forward before the change in the exchange rate, particularly against the franc and the deutschmark, and, since that change has come about, are not the prospects for our manufacturing industry with regard to exports much healthier than they were before?

It is possible that with its renewed competitiveness, British industry will be able to take advantage of the depreciation of the pound. The Opposition Front Bench may not have noticed that there has been a depreciation against the yen of about 18 per cent., which may possibly make a difference to our prospects in Japan.

asked the Minister for Trade what was the balance of visible trade in goods other than oil in 1978, and in the latest 12-month period.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will state separately the balance of non-oil and of oil visible trade for the latest 12-month period.

In 1978 the non-oil balance was in surplus by £442 million and the oil balance was in deficit by £1,984 million. The non-oil balance for the 12 months to November 1982 was in deficit by £2,390 million, while the oil balance was in surplus by £4,283 million.

Do not those figures show the enormous benefit that the Government have derived from oil and the devastation that the country and industry have suffered as a result of the total mismanagement by the Government of the benefit that oil should have given our industry and economy? How have the Government managed to squander a national asset of oil and to so devastate our manufacturing industry that it will not be there to rescue the economy when the oil begins to run out?

I would be the last to underestimate the contribution made by oil to the fortunes of this country, but to talk about the devastation of British industry is to underestimate the volume of British exports, which demonstrates that we still have a sound, leaner and more competitive industry to face the years ahead.

Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that some of the fastest growing markets for manufactures in the world are to be found in the newly industrialising countries in the Far East, precisely the countries from which the Opposition are so keen to insulate this country?

I entirely agree that the growth rate of the ASEAN countries is enviable, and they are markets in which British exporters distinguish themselves.

Does the Mininster realise that he is guilty of an attitude of disgraceful complacency towards British manufacturing industry? Is he aware that North Sea oil has a finite life and that by the time the Government have finished, and North Sea oil begins to run out, British manufacturing industry will be completely destroyed?

I do not know on what possible evidence the hon. Gentleman could make that assertion.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that the majority of manufacturers in this country want us to remain in Europe, where our biggest market is, and that despite the roughness of conditions they do not want us to drift towards trade protectionism, because they know that their future lies in free trade?

As a country that exports 30 per cent. of its gross domestic product, we certainly believe in a free but firm market.

Does the Minister agree that although exports of services and oil add considerably to the surplus that he announced just now, in terms of manpower costs and employment per £1,000 of exports they are very small indeed compared with manufactured goods, and that the deficit in manufactures which he also announced is therefore related to unemployment in this country?

The hon. Gentleman's proposition might be true of our oil exports but it is certainly not true of our invisible export service industries, which are labour-intensive.

asked the Minister for Trade what progress has been made in negotiations on the European Community draft directive on advertising.

Discussions are still continuing in Brussels on this directive. Our aim is that it should be compatible with our own system of self-regulation.

Why do these things take so long, when, about three years ago, we had virtually reached agreement with the Commission about the terms of the directive, which would leave the Advertising Standards Authority largely in the present position, but with a legal back-up? Why is it not possible to move faster in these matters, instead of spending, as in the direct selling directive, up to six years of negotiations while we delay doing anything in this country?

I do not accept that these things are taking so long. We have speeded up a great deal since the Labour Government were in office. In Europe we are pursuing a policy of self-regulation wherever possible, and my Department, instead of waiting for European directives to come to us, is now going into Europe and pursuing British policies in that direction.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will take steps to protect holidaymakers from misleading advertisements for package tours; and if he will make a statement.

The ABTA code, which was developed in consultation with the Director General of Fair Trading, requires brochures and advertising issued by ABTA members to contain clear, comprehensive and accurate information. This offers the holidaymaker a considerable degree of protection.

Does the Minister accept that, in spite of the good work done by ABTA, there are many holidaymakers who are still disappointed when the reality of the holiday in many ways does not live up to the dream? As there are probably 5 million Britishers whom operators hope will travel overseas towards the sun this summer, is it not important that something further is done to protect those people?

I sympathise with what the hon. Gentleman says about holidays that have gone wrong, and I hope that what he says is not based on personal experience.

Not at all. I stay in this country.

The answer for holidaymakers is to go to reputable companies, which obey a code of conduct and have safeguards for the customer.

Does my hon. Friend accept that there is concern on both sides of the House, not only about holidaymakers, but about the general matter of payments in advance for services and goods? Will he continue to bear that in mind in considering the Cork recommendations in this connection?

Yes, we are well aware of that. I hope that with the discussions going on we shall not have to wait for the whole of Cork to be put into legislation, but will be in a position to pull out some action to deal with the current abuses.

If the Minister has time, will he turn his attention to the present television advertising by Sir Freddie Laker? Will he say whether he believes that those advertisements are telling the truth when Sir Freddie Laker says that people's money is safe with him? Will he confirm that he would have said this last time Sir Freddie made personal advertisements, despite the fact that that occurred between the time when the Civil Aviation Authority had warned Ministers that that company was at risk and before the company went bust?

I always have time to take note of what appears in advertisements, because it is important that customers should not be misled. If the hon. Gentleman has some additional special points to put to me, I should be happy to look at them.

As no one has outbankrupted the Laker holiday company, is it right that someone should be allowed to go back into the trade so easily after such massive losses in the conduct of the business?

As the House knows, we are considerably concerned about this kind of action. On the other hand, we practice a free market, and it would be difficult to legislate against that at the moment without handicapping genuine honest traders.

asked the Minister for Trade if he intends to introduce new measures to reduce the decline in the British merchant shipping fleet.

I am considering what can sensibly be done to assist the shipping industry through a difficult period and help stem the decline of the United Kingdom fleet, and have already set in hand an examination of costs connected with the transfer of ships to United Kingdom registry. The tasks of maintaining and improving international competitiveness and meeting the competition must lie primarily with the industry itself.

Does the Minister mind if I tell him that workers and management in the docks say that they seem to listen to nothing but endless talk on this subject? Will he say in what fashion the Government intend to take positive action to lift the industry out of its gloom?

I am aware that those who run the docks at Hull and elsewhere in the United Kingdom are acutely conscious of the difficult times through which the British Merchant Navy is going. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be glad to know that last week I saw the National Union of Seamen and the General Council of British Shipping. This week, I am seeing the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association and the radio officers. I shall be giving the closest consideration to the ideas that they put to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any recent communications from the Club Méditerranée concerning its plans for building in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Club Méditerannée concerning the establishment of a holiday village on the Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and when he expects it to fulfil its agreement.

On 21 January I had discussions in London with Monsieur Trigano, the president of Club Méditerranée. He informed me that he is in active discussion with a number of contractors and assured me that a binding contract would be signed by 31 March. I made it clear that, unless a contract satisfactory to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government is signed by then, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government will initiate legal proceedings.

I thank the Minister for that reply, his first since taking up his new office. May I draw his attention to the reply given by his Department to the Foreign Affairs Committee in Cmnd 8386, in which the Government refute the recommendation that the Minister should be told when a consultant's figures are changed? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figures were "cooked" and changed in respect of this hotel development? Does he not think that the whole of the reply deserves his attention and perhaps reappraisal by the Government?

I have no reason to believe that the reply was wrong. However, in view of the hon. Gentleman's kindly welcome to me, I shall look into the matter.

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on taking up his office and on his reply today. Does he not agree that the establishment of a tourist industry on the Turks and Caicos Islands is the only way in which the islands can look forward to an economically viable future?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I believe that this project is potentially of great value to the islands.

May I add my congratula-tions to the right hon. Gentleman and ask him when he expects construction of the airport to be completed? How many other jobs and new industries, apart from Club Méditerranée, does he expect will be started in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the coming year?

Again, I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I believe that the airport project should be completed soon. I cannot give the hon. Gentleman a specific list of the number of other works now going on. There are, however, other significant developments on the islands.

I welcome my right hon. Friend to his new position on the Front Bench and his statement today. Does he not agree that the construction of the airport, which was agreed in conjunction with Club Méditerranée originally, will be of tangible benefit to the islands and will open up opportunities for other developments in addition to that which he has announced today?

I agree with my hon. Friend—who, again, I thank—that there are other opportunities. Nevertheless, I stress that it is essential to get on with the Club Méditerranée project.

I congratulate the Minister on meeting Monsieur Trigano so quickly after taking over. How can he guarantee that Monsieur Trigano will meet his promises? In the past, Monsieur Trigano has been rather long on promises and short on performance. What guarantees have been given that he will perform as he says and get this project off the ground by 31 March?

If Monsieur Trigano does not get on with his guarantees I have made it clear that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government will initiate legal proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning economic aid to Angola.

Her Majesty's Government's policy in Angola is to concentrate on English language teaching. A small team of English language teachers was appointed in 1981 to assist the National Language Institute in Luanda. In addition, small items of equipment are provided to Angola under the heads of mission gifts scheme.

I join hon. Members in congratulating the right hon. Gentleman and also welcome his reply. Does he agree that there is scope for further aid to Angola, especially if the problem of the seven British detainees can be resolved? Will he accept that the cost to the Angolan Government of keeping seven British detainees in prison for 18 years must be considerable and that it would be within the resources of this country to make such a sum available if the problem could be satisfactorily resolved?

I understand the hon. Gentleman's concern for his constituent. I do not think that it would help the prisoners if we were to link our aid programme direct to the question of their future treatment.

In welcoming the Minister to his new responsibility on the Front Bench, may I apologise for the absence of my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich (Mr. Barnett) who is indisposed? Will the Minister confirm that, prior to his departure for discussions taking place later this week with colleagues in Africa on the future of that continent's development, he will announce to the House that it is no longer his intention, as reported, to stay in South Africa en route to the talks?

I am greatly looking forward to my visit to southern Africa this week. The fact is that I felt it my duty to be here to answer questions. The only way in which I could answer questions today was to catch the particular aircraft on which I am flying.

May I add my congratulations to my right hon. Friend on his new appointment? Further to the supplementary question raised by the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Ginsburg), is my right hon. Friend aware that a constituent of mine is also incarcerated in Angola? Will he draw the attention of other Foreign Office Ministers to the urgent need for a meeting between our ambassador in Angola and President Dos Santos at the earliest opportunity?

I understand my hon. Friend's concern for his constituent. We are currently seeking clemency for the prisoners at the highest level in the Angolan Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds were made available for the Republic of India in the years 1981 and 1982, respectively; and how much he intends to make available in 1983.

British aid is planned by financial rather than calendar year. For the financial year 1980ߝ81, gross aid to India totalled £141 million and for 1981ߝ82, £102 million. For the current financial year, I expect gross aid to be about £111 million.

I join in welcoming the Minister to his comparatively peaceful new life. Has he had time to acquaint himself with the awful tragedy of the November cyclone in the state of Gujarat, which killed hundreds of people, destroyed thousands of cattle and ravaged the countryside? What specific help is he proposing to give to former Chief Minister Babubhai Patel and his team in coping with the disaster? What assurance can he give to citizens of Gujarati origin in Leicester and elsewhere that he is aware of the problem and will help where possible?

I am aware of the sad consequences of the recent cyclone in Gujarat. The Government of India did not ask for international assistance. However, the ODA's disaster unit arranged through Oxfam for the local purchase of up of £23,000 worth of roofing materials.

Will the Minister confirm that there are immediate proposals in hand at any time, when such a disaster occurs, for relief to be offered to requesting countries? Will he investigate the possibility of making advances to countries that have suffered from disasters, without their necessarily having to ask for aid?

There is a system, I understand, by which immediate disaster relief is made available. I take the hon. Gentleman's second point. Nevertheless, we must be sure that Governments concerned want aid before pushing it on them.

Is the Minister happy that our aid to India, with a population of 700 million, should be so disproportionate when compared with the aid that we propose to give to the 1,800 people on the Falkland Islands?

I believe that both programmes are entirely necessary. What we are doing in the Falkland Islands is right, but it is proper that much the largest proportion of our aid programme should go to India.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration his Department gives to the effect on employment in the United Kingdom when deciding on overseas aid expenditure.

The basic aim of our aid programme is to assist developing countries in their efforts to raise living standards. In carrying out the programme we seek to ensure that aid is used where possible in ways that are also of benefit to Britain, including employment.

Is the Minister aware that there seem to be no figures for employment created in this country as a result of overseas aid? Would he agree that that is wrong? The country should know that investment overseas creates employment in this country. Will he produce the figures to show the nation the good that we obtain from helping our brothers and sisters through overseas aid?

There is no doubt that the amount we spend on overseas aid produces considerable employment in this country. I am advised that it is technically difficult to quantify the figure precisely.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. During Trade Questions, eight Opposition hon. Members were not present to ask their questions. Is that not disrespectful, both to the Chair and the House, and a waste of taxpayers' money?