HC Deb 19 June 1979 vol 968 cc506-7W
Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what calculations have been made of the likely increase in the gap between the demand for and supply of aviation fuel in future decades; and what use has been made of this in determining the likely development of air travel and need for airport facilities over this period.

Mr. Tebbit

Studies have been made of the demand, supply and price of aviation fuel in future decades. The results are an important element in the

Percentage changes on previous quarter
Relative export prices of manufactures* Volume of mechanical engineering new export orders† Volume of mechanical manufactures by the engineering new main manufacturing countries‡§
1974— First quarter … … +1½ -2 +4½
Second quarter … … +1½ -5 +1
Third quarter … … -0 -21 +2½
Fourth quarter … … +0 -1 -1½
1975— First quarter … … +4 -8 -6½
Second quarter … … -½ -4 -1
Third quarter … … +½ -8 +1½
Fourth quarter … … -0 -3 +6
1976— First quarter … … +2 +16 +3½
Second quarter … … -5½ -4 +1
Third quarter … … +1½ +18 +2
Fourth quarter … … -4 +22 +2½
1977— First quarter … … +5 -10 +½
Second quarter … … +3½ +10 -½
Third quarter … … +1½ -18 +1½
Fourth quarter … … +3½ -5 +2
1978— First quarter … … +3║ +2 n.a.
Second quarter … … -5½║ -7 n.a.
Third quarter … … +3║ +12 n.a.
Fourth quarter … … n.a. -2 n.a.
* The ratio United Kingdom export value to a weighted 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: Business Monitor PM 33–36.
‡ Volume index on 1970 = 100 seasonally adjusted. Source: Table C1 of the monthly review of external trade statistics. Comparable information for 1978 is not available.
§The main manufacturing countries are taken as the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium/Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Canada and Japan.
║ Provisional.
n.a. Not available.