§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what factors account for the larger reduction in the volume of imports of other consumer goods compared to exports as a result of the change in the base year;
(2) what factors account for the reduction of 9 percentage points in the unit value of exports of miscellaneous goods as a result of the change in the base year and for the corresponding increase of 15 percentage points in the unit value of imports; and if he will account for the changes in the volume index.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe higher unit value index and lower volume index for imports of miscellaneous goods result from a larger weight being given to the rise in the price of gold. The changes within exports of miscellaneous goods and within trade in consumer goods (other than passenger motor cars) result from improvements to the indices, which are now based on a more detailed and larger sample.