Computers (Hansard, 13 January 1988)

§ 1. Ms. Abbott
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by how much Britain's share of world trade in computers changed between 1979 and 1986; and what was the comparable figure in the average, best and worst performing Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country.

§ Mr. Butcher
Between 1979 and 1986 Britain's share of all OECD countries' exports of computers fell by about half from 13.5 per cent. to 6.5 per cent.
This was against a background of a fivefold increase in Japan's share and substantial falls in the shares of other major exporters such as the United States and France.
Nevertheless, our exports of computers are worth over £1,000 million each year and we are the fourth largest exporter among OECD countries.

§ 27. Mr. Flynn
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by how much the trade balance in computers changed between the second quarter of 1979 and the second quarter of 1987; and what was the comparable300W figure in the average, best and worst performing Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country.

§ Mr. Butcher
Britain's trade balance in computers, as measured by the ratio of our exports to our imports fell by about 40 per cent. between 1979 and 1986. Japan's ratio rose by over 800 per cent. and that of the United States fell by 80 per cent. Excluding Japan, the ratio for OECD countries as a whole fell by 27 per cent.

§ 53. Mr. McFall
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by how much the percentage of Britain's domestic market met by imports of computers changed between 1979 and June 1987; and what arc the comparable figures in the average, best and worst performing Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country.

§ Mr. Butcher
Data for international comparisons are not available. For the United Kingdom information is available only up to 31 March 1987. The ratio of the value of imports to home demand was 89 per cent. in 1979 and 101 per cent. in the year ending March 1987. The value of imports is distorted by the inclusion of imports for re-export.