HC Deb 20 November 1979 vol 974 cc165-7W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what information was made available by Her Majesty's Government upon which the United

1976—
First quarter 102.0 9.5
Second quarter 96.4 8.8
Third quarter 97.9 8.6
Fourth quarter 94.2 8.2
1977—
First quarter 98.8 9.0‡
Second quarter 102.2 9.4‡
Third quarter 103.6 9.7‡
Fourth quarter 107.2 9.1‡
1978—
First quarter 110.5‡ 10.0‡
Second quarter 104.4‡ 9.5‡
Third quarter 108.0‡ 9.5‡
Fourth quarter 109.6‡ 9.0‡
* United Kingdom export prices of manufactures relative to a weighted average of main competitors.
† United Kingdom share of main manufacturing countries exports of manufactures The main manufacturing countries are taken as United Kingdom, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, USA and Japan.
‡ Provisional.

Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing (a) the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the EEC Six and from other countries in each year from 1970 and this year to date and (b) the relative export price for United Kingdom manufactures compared with the Six.

Mr. Eyre

The information is as follows:

Nations Secretariat was able to calculate volume and unit value figures for the United Kingdom when compiling special table F in the June issue of the Monthly Bulletin of Statistics; what consultation was made with Her Majesty's Government about these calculations; and if he will publish the United Nations figures for the United Kingdom in the Official Report.

Mr. Eyre

The data in this table are compiled by the United Nations, apparently on the basis of published and readily available information on the trade statistics of the United Kingdom and of other individual countries. The table does not separately distinguish indices for the United Kingdom, nor, as far as we are aware, are any available as a by-product of the computation. The figures in the table have been compiled for many years now. We have been unable to trace any explicit consultation.