§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his estimate for the United Kingdom and Italian shares of world trade in manufactures in 1979; and if he has made an estimate of when he expects the Italian share to overtake the United Kingdom share.
§ Mr. ParkinsonShares in world trade in manufactures are normally measured in terms of the value share of main manufacturing countries' exports of manufactured goods. These countries account for about three-quarters of world exports of manufactures. On this basis, latest estimates, relating to the first three quarters of 1979, show figures of 9½ per cent. and 8 per cent. for the United Kingdom and Italy, respectively. My Department does not make forecasts of this type of information.