§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the increase in the average value of imports and exports of manufactures since 1980 compared with the increase in unit values.
§ Mr. ChannonThe information is as follows:
Manufactures (SITC Rev2 5–8) Percentage change 1980–1984 Exports Unit Value Index +35 Average Value Index +32 Imports Unit Value Index +37 Average Value Index +31
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what factors he attributes the smaller increase in the unit value of imports of semi-manufactures less chemicals since 1980 compared with the period before 1980.
§ Mr. ChannonThe smaller increase in recent years is largely attributable to silver bullion and other non-ferrous metals; the unit value index for these commodities rose at an average annual rate of 2.5 per cent in the period from 1980 to 1984 compared with an average annual rise of nearly 33 per cent between 1978 and 1980.