§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the effect which the increase of 35 per cent. in the real rate of exchange between sterling and the deutschmark had on United Kingdom imports from and 453W exports to West Germany between the first quarter of 1979 and the third quarter of 1985; what were the nominal rates of exchange in each period; what is the present rate of exchange; and what is his estimate of the difference in the rate of inflation between the United Kingdom and West Germany since the third quarter of 1985.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the increase in United Kingdom relative export prices compared with those of West Germany since the first quarter of 1979 together with the change in the balance of trade in manufactures between the two countries.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe United Kingdom's export prices for manufactures are estimated to have increased by about 28 per cent. compared with those of the Federal Republic of Germany between the first quarter of 1979 and the fourth quarter of 1985. The crude deficit on our trade in manufactures with Germany increased from £0.6 billion to £1.4 billion over this period.