§ 81. Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that the methods used to calculate the monthly trade figures are accurate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John DaviesThe figures are not calculated but are a compilation of data from documents lodged with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise by traders and their agents. The figures do not relate precisely to the movement of goods in the month concerned. While the receipt of import documents corresponds closely to imports themselves, in the case of exports the correspondence is less close because documents are generally received after shipment and with varying delay.