§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is proposing to solve the problems of skill shortages in the information technology industries.
§ Mr. ButcherPursuant to my answer to a supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Mr. Hoyle) on 27 February 1985 at column333, the following are the trade balances for the years 1979–1983 and, the full-year figures not yet being available, for January-September 1984 for the information technology industries including, and excluding electronic consumer goods.
Balance of trade for information technology industries* Including electronic consumer goods Excluding electronic consumer goods £ million £ million 1984† -1,794 -1,231 1983 -2,159 -1,104 1982 -1,436 -514 1981 -1,070 -361 1980 -384 -21 1979 -468 -81 * Office machinery (Activity Heading 3301 in the standard industrial classification, revised 1980), electronic data processing equipment (3302), telecommunications equipment (3441), radio and electronic capital goods (3443), electronic components and subassemblies (3444 and 3453), and electronic consumer goods (3454). † January—September.