§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the change in the volume of orders on hand for United Kingdom mechanical engineering products for supply to the United Kingdom market since 1989; what the corresponding figures are for Germany, France and Italy; whether he will publish a table showing the value and volume of output, imports, exports and consumption of mechanical engineering products in the United Kingdom and each of these countries in 1970, 1.979, 1989 and 1992 together with the numbers employed; and when he expects United Kingdom orders for supply to the United Kingdom market to regain the 1989 level.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe United Kingdom information on the volume of orders on hand is regularly published in "Engineering Sales and Orders," published by CSO, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Corresponding figures for Germany, France and Italy are not readily available.
Some comparable information on the value of output and employment for 1979 and 1989 is available on the Eurostat Cronos database, which can be assessed via the Library of the House. Corresponding information for [970 and 1992 is not readily available. The information requested on trade and the volume of output is not readily available. Information on consumption of mechanical engineering products is not collected. The Department does not make industrial forecasts.