HC Deb 28 June 1993 vol 227 cc368-9W
Mr. Fisher

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met representatives of the printing and publishing industries.

Mr. Sainsbury

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade lunched with the newspaper conference on 9 November 1992. Ministers and officials in the Department frequently meet representatives of the printing and publishing industries.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the contribution of the publishing industry to the United Kingdom economy.

Mr. Sainsbury

Printing and publishing make an important contribution to the United Kingdom economy, accounting for 1.8 per cent. of gross domestic product (GDP) and 8.1 per cent. of manufacturing industry's share of GDP. Figures for the publishing industry alone are not available.