§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated
300W
1975=100 Relative export prices Terms of trade Relative normal unit labour costs Wholesale prices Export prices of manufactures Import prices of manufactures (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) 1975—Q1 … … 100.1 98.7 n.a. 93.7 95 95 Q2 … … 99.6 100.4 n.a. 98.5 97 97 Q3 … … 100.1 100.8 n.a. 102.1 102 102 Q4 … … 100.1 100.1 n.a. 105.7 106 106 1976—Q1 … … 102 100.5 n.a. 110.7 111 110 Q2 … … 96.4 98.5 n.a. 114.5 117 119 Q3 … … 97.9 99.4 n.a. 119.2 124 126 Q4 … … 94.2 98.2 84.9 125.2 132 136 1977—Q1 … … 98.8 99.1 88.8 133.0 136 138 Q2 … … 102.2 100.6 88.1 139.6 142 141 Q3 … … 103.6 101.3 88.1 143.8 146 143 Q4 … … 107.2 102.4 90.2 145.8 148 144 1978—Q1 … … 110.5* 105.7 94.7 149.2 151 144 Q2 … … 104.2* 104.9 92.2 151.8 154 150 Q3 … … 107.4* 106.1 94.1 154.8 159 154 Q4 … … n.a. 106.9 94.3 157.3 163 158 1979—Q1 … … n.a. 107.7 n.a. 161.6 168 161 Notes: (a) The unit value of United Kingdom exports of manufactures divided by a weighted average of the unit value of competitors' exports of manufactures, both expressed in a common currency. (b) Export unit value index as a percentage of the import unit value index, both covering total trade, on a balance of payments basis. (c) United Kingdom normal labour costs per unit of manufacturing output divided by a weighted average of competitors' normal unit labour cost, both series being expressed in a common currency and adjusted for variations in productivity about long-term trends. The IMF has recently revised this series; consistent earlier figures are not yet available. (d) United Kingdom wholesale price index of home sales of all manufactured products. (e) Export unit value index of manufactures (Sections 5–8 of SITC (Rev 2)) in £ sterling terms. (f) Import unit value index of manufactures (Sections 5–8 of SITC (Rev 2)) in £ sterling terms. n.a.= Not available. *Provisional. effect on the defence budget of the increase in value added tax announced in the Budget; and what is the net increase in defence expenditure proposed for the current year.
§ Mr. PymThe information requested by my hon. Friend is not readily available. As soon as it is I shall arrange for it to be published in theOfficial Report.