§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the percentage increases to date in the trade-weighted real exchange for the £ sterling at current nominal rates of exchange, against the Deutschmark, dollar and yen since (a) the fourth quarter of 1976 and (b) the first quarter of 1987, measured in terms of relative export prices for manufacturers, taking into account: (i) the increase in the nominal rate of exchange and (ii) the difference in the rate of inflation since the fourth quarter of 1989, as shown in table F8 of the monthly "Review of External Trade Statistics"; and if he will add a figure for the exchange rate mechanism countries combined in so far as these are available.
§ Mr. MaplesTable F8 of the monthly "Review of External Trade Statistics" is compiled using information from the IMF, and will be updated in due course.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the percentage increases in the trade-weighted real exchange for sterling at current nominal rates of exchange compared to the D-mark, dollar and yen between the fourth quarter of 1976 and the first quarter of 1990 measured in terms of relative export prices for manufacturers and the increase since then in the nominal rates of exchange; what effect the increase to the first quarter of 1990 had on the balance of trade in manufacturers; and what is his estimate of the effect which the increase since the first quarter will have on that balance in the next 12 months.
§ Mr. MaplesFigures for nominal and real exchange rates are available in "IMF International Financial Statistics". Recent movements in nominal and real exchange rates will be among the many factors taken into account in the revised forecast for visible trade to be published in the "Autumn Statement".