§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a matrix table showing for columns 6–21 of table 2.6 in the 1989 Blue Book, together with a total for these columns, the value of imported manufactured goods less food, drink and tobacco and where possible imported services.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe information required can be obtained by simply aggregation of the imports use matrix given in table 3 of the CSO publication "Input-output tables for the United Kingdom 1985", a copy of which is available in the Library.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent to which the increase in imports of manufactured goods in 1988 and in the current year to date was due to lack of United Kingdom production capacity; and if he will publish in theOfficial Report a list of the industries which were unable to increase output to meet the increase of demand together with a table showing in each case the volume of output and imports in 1988, the current year to date, 1973 and 1979.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIt is difficult to make precise estimates of the effect of capacity constraints on manufactured imports. However, the CBI quarterly industrial trends survey reported a high proportion of firms working at capacity in 1988 and early 1989, particularly in consumer goods industries. More recent surveys have shown an easing in capacity constraints. The data requested can be found on the CSO's computer databank which is available in the House of Commons Library.