HC Deb 01 December 1980 vol 995 c17W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish a table in the Official Report showing imports and experts of manufactures from the EEC Six in each quarter since the beginning of 1976, by volume, using the increase in unit values as a price deflator.

Mr. Tebbit

The use of aggregate price indices, to compile volume figures of United Kingdom trade by area is unlikely to be valid, since the commodities traded and the prices and price movements of these commodities will vary for different parts of the world. It would be wrong to publish misleading information.