§ Mr. Stanleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of Great Britain's exports by value were provided by manufacturing companies in the private sector of industry, in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MeacherI regret the information is not available. In the Department of Industry annual overseas transactions inquiries into direct exports and the credit terms of exports, only a sample of enterprises, that is, groups of companies under common ownership, are covered. An industry analysis of the returns received on the basis of the main activity of the enterprise is shown, in respect of 1973, in Tables 43 and 46 of the Business Monitor 347W M4 Overseas Transactions 1973 a copy of which is in the Library. Similar information in respect of 1974 is due to be published in the corresponding Business Monitor for 1974 in two to three weeks' time.