HC Deb 21 February 1980 vol 979 cc280-1W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the difference between the price which United Kingdom exporters charge for manufactures exported to the European Economic Community compared with the rest of the world is as great as it is in the case of the Federal Republic of Germany: and to what extent the German advantage, as shown in their published statistics, is taken into account in assessing the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufactures.

Mr. Parkinson

Information on the price of United Kingdom exports of manufactures by market is not available in the United Kingdom statistics; therefore, comparisons of the kind requested are not possible.

The prices meaning of the phrase "the German advantage" is not clear. If the hon. Member would care to write to me and explain, I will of course reply in full.