§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Bank of England's contention that United Kingdom exporters have been increasing their profit margins at the expense of volume exports.
§ Mr. NelsonOver the past year, exports have increased strongly—in the third quarter export volumes, excluding oil and erratics, were up 14 per cent. on a year earlier—and export profit margins have also risen, reflecting tight control over unit costs.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the price of finished manufactures exported(a) to the EEC and (b) to non-EEC countries between 30 December 1992 and 31 August 1994.
§ Mr. NelsonPrice indices for United Kingdom exports of finished manufactures to other EC countries and to non-EC countries are published on a monthly basis. The figures are available on the Central Statistical Office database, which can be accessed through the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish his estimate of the current net rate of return as defined in CSO "First Release" (94)205 on exports of manufactures; and what were the figures for(a) 1972, (b) 1979, (c) 1988 and (d) 1990;
(2) what assessment he has made of the correlation between the net rate of return on exports of manufacturers in 1990 and 1993 and the rate of 7.4 per cent. and 5.8 per cent. for manufacturing as shown in CSO "First Release" (94)205; and if the rate being earned on exports in the third quarter of this year was higher than 7.4 per cent.
§ Mr. NelsonI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 13 December,Official Report, column 587.