§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the percentage reduction in the volume of manufacturing output between 1978 and 1983; and what proportion of this is represented by the reduction in the volume of exports of manufacture;
(2) what was the percentage reduction in the volume of manufacturing output between 1978 and 1983; and what proportion of this is represented by the increase in the volume of imports of manufactures.
§ Mr. ButcherBetween 1978 and 1983 manufacturing output declined by 13 per cent.
Many factors influence the level of manufacturing output including the volume of exports of manufactures. It is not possible to apportion changes in output between the various factors in any meaningful way.