HC Deb 19 May 1966 vol 728 c1540
44. Mr Biffen

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average number of working days after the end of the month before the publication of the Overseas Trade Accounts for the period January-April for 1963, 1964, and 1965, respectively.

Mr. Jay

Eighteen and a half, 18¼ and 21.

Mr. Biffen

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figure of 21 refers to a period when these statistics were produced by a computer? Is it not extraordinary, not only that less information is available since these statistics were computerised, but that it takes longer to produce them? Incidentally, the trade figures are usually pretty indifferent, anyway.

Mr. Jay

I think that the hon. Gentleman is confusing two things. The provisional trade figures, which are usually popularly known as the trade figures, are now being published three days earlier than before and in much greater detail as a result of the installation of the computer.