§ 18. Mr. BattleTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was Britain's share of main manufacturing countries exports of manufactures in(a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c) in the lastest available quarter.
§ Mr. MellorAs I said earlier today in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey), the UK's share has risen in each of the last three years after decdes of decline, as shown in the autumn statement. Based on a measure that includes the exports of all market economies, the share was 7.2 per cent, in 1979 and 6.1 per cent. in 1985. It is likely to have been 6¼ per cent. in 1991.
§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the United Kingdom's share of the world trade in manufactured goods; and what has been the trend in recent years.
§ Mr. MellorThe United Kingdom's share stabilised in the mid-1980s, increased in 1989 and 1990, and looks most likely to have increased again in 1991. Its current level is 6¼ per cent., almost ½per cent. higher than in 1988.