§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of nitrate fertilisers imported in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the 10 previous years, respectively.
§ Mr. ChannonI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of nitrate fertiliser production in the United Kingdom in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.
§ Mr. TrippierEstimates of United Kingdom production of nitrate fertilisers are not available. Figures of sales of ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate mixtures for the past 10 years are as follows:
Sales by United Kingdom manufacturers of Ammonium Nitrate and mixtures of Ammonium Nitrate with Lime, Chalk or other substances* Year £ million 1972 † 1973 37.9 1974 57.4 1975 78.7 1976 71.1 1977 94.7 1978 115.4 1979 152.1 1980 171.9 1981 205.5 1982 218.8 * Figures for 1973 to 1980 relate to sales by United Kingdom manufacturers employing 25 or more persons and from 1981 onwards by those employing 50 or more persons. The figure for 1980 was the same on both bases. † Not available. Source: Business Monitors PQ 278 and PQ 2513.