§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in theOfficial Report the data on which he based his conclusion that the balance of payments deficit in manufactured goods in 1989 was due to excessive consumption; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the balance of trade in manufactures less erratics in 1978 and 1989 in terms of 1988 prices together with the percentage of gross domestic product spent by consumers on goods other than fuel. food, drink and tobacco.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 22 February 1990]: It is not possible to make precise estimates of the contributions of various elements of expenditure to the increase in the deficit in trade in manufactured goods. Data on the trade deficit, and on the components of consumers' expenditure, are available in the Library. The balance of trade in manufactures at constant 1988 prices can be derived from the CSO databank which can be accessed through the Library.