§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the fall in the volume of exports in the last six and 12 months, respectively; how the present volume compares with the preceding year; and to what he attributes this fall.
§ Mr. MeacherThe volume of exports, far from falling, has shown strong underlying growth during the past two years or so, with the marked increase in 1977 achieved despite weak world demand. In the six months to October 1977 the volume of deliveries was 6 per cent. higher than in the preceding six months, while between the 12 months to October 1976 and the 12 months to October 1977 there was a rise of 91 per cent. In the three months to October 1977 the volume of exports was 10 per cent. higher than a year earlier.