§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the quarterly growth rate of the combined industrial, construction and agricultural sector of the United Kingdom economy in(a) the fourth quarter of 1997 and (b) the first quarter of 1998; and if he will make a statement. [41162]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 11 May 1998]Output in the combined industrial, construction and agricultural sector fell by 0.5 per cent. in the fourth quarter of 1997. Estimates for the first quarter of 1998 will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 22 May.