HC Deb 03 March 1982 vol 19 cc137-8W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish a table in the Official Report showing (a) the increase since the fourth quarter of 1976 to the latest available date in (i) the terms of trade for manufactures and (ii) relative export prices for manufactures, and (b) to what extent the difference between the two figures is due to an increase in profit margins on imported motor vehicles and other imported manufactures.

Mr. Peter Rees

The latest available comparable data can be found in tables D2 and F3 of theMonthly Review of External Trade Statistics, copies of which are in the Library. There is no evidence to suggest that the difference between the series is due to an increase in profit margins.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing at an annual rate the balance of trade with (a) the EEC six and (b) the rest of the world since September 1981 for (i) manufactures, less precious stones and (ii) visible trade less crude oil and precious stones.

Mr. Peter Rees

For(a) and (b) respectively the figures are (i) -£5.0 billion and +£7.3 billion and (ii) -£5.8 billion and +£1.8 billion. However, these figures are unrepresentative of trade in a full year.