§ Mr. Meacherasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average percentage increase in the price of imported commodity goods into Great Britain over the last year; and what he estimates, on the basis of international comparisons with France, Germany and other EEC and non-EEC countries, would have been the increase if, respectively, Great Britain had had a fixed exchange rate or stayed within the collective European float.
§ Mr. NottOn the basis of United Kingdom import unit value index numbers, published monthly inTrade and Industry, the average percentage increases in prices of imported commodity goods were as follows:
Percentage increase* (based on period July 1972 to August 1973 expressed at an annual rate) Food, beverages and tobacco 38 per cent. Basic materials 37 per cent. Fuels 35 per cent. Total "non-manufactured" goods 37 per cent. * Detailed information for August 1972 was not published. The second part of the Question refers to hypothetical situations, the effects of which cannot be quantified.