§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will bring up to date the information published in the Official Report on 9 March 1978, volume 945, columns 758–59 in reply to the questions concerning new export orders in the mechanical engineering industry.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe volume of exports of manufactures by the main 125W manufacturing countries is not available on a basis consistent with the figures given in the reply published in the Official Report on 9 March 1978 and subsequently updated in a reply given in the Official Report on 19 June 1979. The latest available figures for quarterly changes in the volume of new export orders for mechanical engineering and relative export prices for manufactures are given in the following table:
Percentage changes on previous quarter Relative export prices of manufactures* Volume of mechanical engineering new export orders 1975: First quarter … +4 -8 Second quarter … -½ -5 R Third quarter … +½ -6 R Fourth quarter … -0 -1 R 1976: First quarter … +2 +13 R Second quarter … -5½ +1 R Third quarter … +1½ +14 R Fourth quarter … -4 +23 R 1977: First quarter … +5 -12 R Second quarter … +3½ +1 R Third quarter … +l½ -8 R Fourth quarter … +3½ +4 R 1978: First quarter … +3 -9 R Second quarter … -5½ -8 R Third quarter … +3½R +18 R Fourth quarter … +1½P -12 R 1979: First quarter … N.A. +5 P Second quarter … N.A. +6 P Third quarter … N.A. -12 P * The ratio of United Kingdom export unit value to a weighted average of competitors' export unit values, both expressed in a common currency. Published in table B23 of the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics. New orders, net of cancellations, received by United Kingdom companies, at constant 1975 prices, seasonally adjusted. Source: Monthly Digest of Statistics(issue for December 1979 to be publish 16 January 1980). P=Provisional R=Revised N.A=Not available