§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the latest figure available in the index of competitiveness; what estimate is made of the current figure; and on what basis the estimate is made.
§ Mr. MeacherThe latest reasonably firm information relates to the first quarter of 1976, where the index—on 1970=100—is, on present estimates, 99.5. This information, on a quarterly basis, is given in Table B23 of the latest edition (No. 15) of the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. My Department does not make estimates of current figures.