§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of(a)the degree to which the sterling price of imports has been maintained and (b) the change in demand for imported manufactures, following the fall in the value of sterling.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not possible to separate the impact of the recent fall in the value of sterling from other factors influencing the sterling price of United Kingdom imports. Nevertheless, improved competitiveness is expected to restrain the growth of manufactured import volumes in 1993.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the benefits of devaluation to the financing needs of the coal industry.
§ The Prime MinisterThe new external financing limits for British Coal announced last week, which are provisional pending decisions on the coal review, already take account of recent changes in exchange rates.