HC Deb 20 December 1994 vol 251 cc1034-5W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the effects of increases in the price of imported goods.

Mr. Needham

Import prices impact on the economy in a number of ways. The Government's assessment of economic developments and prospects, published in chapter 3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", took into account all relevant factors, including the prices of imported goods.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate for each line of the import figure corresponding to exports, as set out in table 2.1 for the 1994 edition of the United Kingdom national accounts.

Mr. Needham

The answer is in the table.

Imports, from the Input-Output Make matrix for the Kingdom for 1991 and 1992
£ million at purchasers' price
1991
Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 4,007
Mining and quarrying including oil and gas extraction 7,759
Manufacturing 107,753
Electricity, gas and water supply 349
Construction 0
Wholesale and retail trade; repairs; hotels and restaurants 6,142
Transport, storage and communication 8,268
Financial intermediation, real estate, renting and business activities 4,483
Public administration, national defence and compulsory social 394
Security
Education, health and social work 319
Other services including sewage and refuse disposal 1,336
Total1 140,810
1992
Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 4,210
Mining and quarrying including oil and gas extraction 7,456
Manufacturing 115,180
Electricity, gas and water supply 378
Construction 0
Wholesale and retail trade; repairs; hotels and restaurants 6,864
Transport, storage and communication 8,692
Financial intermediation, real estate, renting and business activities 4,634
Public administration, national defence and compulsory social 387
Security
Education, health and social work 271
Other Services including sewage and refuse disposal 1,421
Total1 149,492
Source:
1 CSO Differences between totals and sums of components are due to rounding

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's policy to increase the share of imports in the United Kingdom market for non-food manufactures; and what was the figure for import penetration in(a) 1973, (b) 1979 and (c) at the latest available date.

Mr. Needham

It is not the Government's policy to increase the share of imports in the United Kingdom market for non-food manufactures. The information requested can be compiled only at disproportionate cost.