HC Deb 22 March 1994 vol 240 cc206-8W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the change in the level of United Kingdom imports of semi-manufactures since 1970, and the change in the level of exports; what were the corresponding figures for imports and exports from the EEC Twelve; what was the corresponding increase in the United Kingdom output, in import penetration, and in the import content of United Kingdom output of finished manufactures; and how many manufacturing jobs were lost as a consequence.

Mr. Needham

Information on United Kingdom visible trade is regularly published in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom". Copies of this publication are available in the Library of the House. Semi-manufactures are defined by sections 5 and 6 of the standard international trade classification.

Owing to major difference between the industrial and trade classifications, it is not possible to provide comparable information on United Kingdom production and employment.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the percentage change since United Kingdom entry into the EEC of the United Kingdom, French and Italian shares of exports of manufactures by the main manufacturing countries and the reasons for the difference in performance.

Mr. Needham

The information can be readily derived from table E2 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", published by the Central Statistical Office, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The Department has not undertaken a study of the reasons for the difference in manufactures export share between the United Kingdom, France and Italy since United Kingdom entry into the EEC.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the increase in each quarter since the third quarter of 1992, taking that quarter as a base equal to 100, in export unit values for finished manufacturers shipped to the rest of the EC and to the rest of the world together with the increase in the nominal exchange rate against the ecu and non-ecu currencies.

Mr. Needham

Unit values for exports to EC and non-EC countries, with 1990 as a base, are available from the Central Statistical Office central shared database, access to which is available in the Library of the House. Reweighting to a different base period would entail disproportionate cost.

The sterling exchange rate against the ecu is also available from the database. A single exchange rate of sterling against non-ecu currencies is not readily available. The International Monetary Fund publishes details of US dollar exchange rates against other currencies in "International Financial Statistics", which is available in the Library of the House.

Registrations of new cars in the United Kingdom by country of origin
February 1994 February 1993
New cars Percentage New cars Percentage
EC 129,054 88.57 109,012 85.85
of which France 21,197 14.55 18,672 14.70
Germany 17,473 11.98 15,605 12.29
Italy 3,216 2.20 2,880 2.27
Spain 10,826 7.43 5,068 3.99
United Kingdom 61,864 42.45 58,689 46.22
EFTA 1,746 1.20 1,475 1.16
Other West European 0 0.00 21 0.02
Eastern Europe 2,516 1.73 968 0.76
Japan 9,398 6.45 12,297 9.68
Other Countries 2,996 2.06 3,211 2.53
Total imports 83,846 57.54 68,295 53.78
TOTAL 145,710 100.00 126,984 100.00
Source: Monthly Registrations Press release published by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited.