§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing (i) in terms of volume and of value at 1985 prices United Kingdom sales in 1973, 1979 and 1988 of the industries wholly or mainly engaged in manufacturing importable and exportable goods, (ii) imports and exports of such goods and (iii) the annual rate of increase in United Kingdom output in the 15 years prior to 1973 and in the period since.
§ Mr. Norman LamontMost manufactured goods can be imported and exported and therefore the question can be considered only in terms of manufacturing as a whole.
- (i) United Kingdom sales data are not collected in volume terms, nor at 1985 prices, but the "Report of the Census of Production" summary volume contains current price data for sales and work done. However, a preferred indicator is gross output—that is, sales and work done adjusted for work in progress and goods on hand for sale. No figures are available yet for 1988.
- (ii)—Data at 1985 prices are not published for imports and exports, but current price data and volume indices are contained in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics".
- (iii) Index numbers of output for manufacturing industries at 1985 prices are available in "Economic Trends" and its associated annual supplement.
The above publications are available from the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing in terms of 1985 prices the balance of trade in manufacturing less erratics on a BOP basis in each year from 1970 to 1973, in 1977, and from 1985 to 1988 and this year to date at an annual rate together with the annual increase/decrease in terms of 1985 prices in (i) gross and net investment in manufacturing industry, (ii) savings, (iii) consumer expenditure, (iv) United Kingdom output of capital and consumer goods, (v) imports of consumer and capital goods and (vi) exports of consumer and capital goods; and if he will publish corrective co-efficients with the trade deficit in each case.
§ Mr. Norman LamontInformation at constant prices, as is available, from which the balance of trade and percentage changes may be derived, can be found in Government statistical service publications, available from the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office databank, which may be accessed through the Library.
It is not clear what the hon. Member means by "corrective coefficients".
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the trade deficit in manufactures less erratics on a BOP basis in 1988 and this year to date; and what is his estimate of the contribution 21W made in each case by the increase in investment in manufacturing industry and the fall in personal saving, respectively.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe figures requested can be found on the CSO's computer databank, which can be accessed in the House of Commons Library. It is not possible to make precise estimates of the contribution to the manufacturing trade deficit of the rise in investment and fall in personal saving.