§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his forecast of the percentage increase in manufacturing output in 1984; and how this compares with the percentage increase in imports of manufactures.
§ Mr. ChannonMy Department does not provide economic forecasts. Published figures indicate that the index of output of manufacturing industries was 3 per cent. higher in the first 11 months of 1984 than in the corresponding period a year earlier. In 1984 as a whole the import volume index of manufactured goods was some 10 per cent. higher than in 1983.