HC Deb 26 October 1988 vol 139 cc293-4W
58. Mr. Boyes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how the competitiveness of(a) British and (b) West German industry has changed in the last year.

Mr. Newton

There is no single satisfactory measure of competitiveness since price and non-price factors are both important. The only reliable indicator of all-round competitiveness is a country's share of world trade. Between 1986 and 1987 the United Kingdom increased its share of the value of exports of manufactures of the main manufacturing countries from 7.6 per cent. to 8.1 per cent. and West Germany from 20.7 per cent. to 21.5 per cent.