§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing for the metal manufacturing, chemical and man-made fibre, textile, and footwear and clothing industries, respectively, his estimate for the current degree of import penetration and in December 1978 and the earliest period for which figures are available, together with the increase in each case since 1973 and 1979 in (a) the volume of imports and exports and in United Kingdom output, (b) the volume of new fixed capital investment in manufacturing industry gross and net of capital consumption and (c) the change in the balance of trade with the EEC 12, European Free Trade Association, the United States of America and the rest of the world.
§ Mr. Alan Clark[holding answer 11 November 1988]Relevant information is in the table. It has not been possible to make comparisons with 1973 figures, due to classification changes.
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Class 22 Metal manufacturing Class 25 Chemical industries Class 26 Man-made fibres Class 43 Textiles Group 451 Footwear Group 453 Clothing Change in gross spending between 1973 and 1987 +9 per cent. Change in gross spending between 1979 and 1987 -10 per cent. Change in net spending between 1973 and 1987 -74 per cent. Change in net spending between 1979 and 1987 -78 per cent.