§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the figures in table 15–10 of the monthly digest of statistics have not been updated with the 1988 figures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Redwood[holding answer 23 October 1989]: The delay has been caused by the introduction in January 1988 of the new harmonised system for overseas transactions, entailing a thorough revision and renumbering of the Customs tariff headings.
All tariff codes had to be reassessed and reallocated, in whole or in part, to the industries of the standard industrial classification before the import penetration and export sales ratios presented in table 15.10 of the monthly digest of statistics could be derived.
This classification has proved to be more complex and to have taken longer than expected. The ratios for 1988 will be published in the next edition of the monthly digest of statistics.