§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show, for manufacturing for each year since 1970, the net operating surplus as a percentage of net average capital employed based on historic costs.
§ Mr. NelsonEstimates for net average capital employed by manufacturing companies are not readily available on a historic cost basis. The equivalent series calculated on a current cost basis is published in CSO "First Release" 94(205)—Profitability of United Kingdom companies: rates of return of United Kingdom industrial and commercial companies". Data are available between 1970 and 1991 on a historic cost basis, but these are based on the old definition of manufacturing and do not include any revised information since they were last calculated in September 1992.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what non-oil export and import prices his calculation in paragraph 3.51 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" of a 2 per cent. fall in terms of trade was based; and if he will list comparable figures for manufactures, finished manufactures and semi-manufactures, together with the increase in the terms of trade for finished manufactures since the second half of 1973, the fourth quarter of 1976, the second quarter of 1979 and the fourth quarter of 1986.
§ Mr. NelsonThe figures for trade prices quoted in paragraph 3.51 of the FSBR are based on average value indices. Comparable figures for manufactures, semi-manufactures and finished manufactures can be calculated from the value and volume numbers available on the CSO database, which can be accessed through the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down his 1993 figures and 939W forecasts in paragraph 3.51 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for EEC and non-EEC countries showing (a) the increase in non-oil import and export prices and corresponding change in the terms of trade, (b) comparable figures for semi-manufactures, finished manufactures and manufactures and (c) figures on the same basis as (a) and (b) for the second half of 1973, the fourth quarter of 1976, the second quarter of 1979 and the fourth quarter of 1986.
§ Mr. NelsonAverage value indices by commodity are available separately for trade with other EC countries and non-EC countries from 1988. These can be calculated from the value and volume figures available on the CSO database, which can be accessed through the House of Commons Library. Forecasts are not made separately for trade with other EC countries and non-EC countries.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of volume for imports and exports in respect of(a) manufactures, (b) finished manufactures and (c) semi-manufactures with (i) the EEC and (ii) other countries for (1) the last three months for which figures are available and (2) the equivalent months in 1992; and what is his assessment of the growth of the market for imports in those markets.
§ Mr. NelsonFigures for export and import volumes by commodity for trade with other EC countries and with non-EC countries are available from the Central Statistical Office database, which can be accessed through the House of Commons Library. The Government's assessment of trade performance, published in chapter 3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", took into account all relevant factors, including market growth.