§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, further to his answer of 20 July,Official Report, columns 621–2, concerning the increase in import and export unit values for finished manufactures since 1983, he will publish in the Official Report the percentage increase in the terms of trade for finished manufactures in (a) May 1988, (b) 1980–81, (c) the first quarter of 1987 and (d) the first half of 1973; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the increase on the balance of trade in finished manufactures.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe information is as follows:
Terms of trade for finished manufactures percentage change over: May 1988 +1.8 April 1988 Year 1980 -6.2 Year 1979 Year 1981 +1.5 Year 1980 1987 quarter 1 -0.8 1986 quarter 4 1973 first half -1.9 1972 second half No estimates of the effects of changes in the terms of trade on the balances have been made.