§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information the Governor of the Bank of England has provided to him in the last year in respect of(a) a shortage of productive capacity and (b) overheating in any of the import-competing and export industries. [27079]
§ Mr. NelsonMy right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor meets regularly with the Governor to discuss the prospects for inflation and the current state of the economy. The Governor's views are reported in the published minutes of the monthly monetary meetings. The Bank also publishes its views in its quarterly inflation report.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the current capacity working of each of the principal importing-competing and export industries. [27084]
§ Mr. NelsonDirect quantitative measures of capacity output by industry are not available. However, business survey indicators, for example from the CBI, suggest that capacity utilisation has been rising. This is to be94W welcomed, provided companies are able to invest when they need to expand capacity.