§ Mr. Ron Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will institute an inquiry into the response of United Kingdom-based exporters to changes in the exchange rate of the £ sterling and the pricing of British exports in overseas markets;
(2) what evidence he has on whether, if United Kingdom-based exporting firms had reduced prices in response to the depreciation of the £ sterling, the consequential total export revenue received 727W would have been sufficient to offset the lower price per unit of exports sold;
(3) what evidence he has on whether United Kingdom-based exporting firms refused to reduce prices overseas during the period in which the sterling was depreciating on the overseas exchange markets.
§ Mr. MeacherI have asked my officials to look into the feasibility of such an inquiry, and I shall write to my hon. Friend on the outcome and place copies in the Library of the House for the information of hon. Members.