HC Deb 09 July 1996 vol 281 cc95-6W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the figures for import penetration of the United Kingdom market for manufactures by imports from other EU countries for each year since 1970; [35713]

(2) if he will list the revised figures for import penetration of the United Kingdom market for manufactures for each year since 1970; [35715]

(3) what assessment he has made of the impact of the shift to standard industrial classification 1992 on the figures for import penetration of the United Kingdom market for manufactures; [35710]

(4) what has been the import share of the United Kingdom market for manufactures in each year since 1980; and what is his forecast for long-term change in that share. [35932]

Mrs. Angela Knight

Import penetration figures for the period 1970 to 1994—and quarterly figures for 1995—the most recent figures available, can be found in publications as indicated in the following table. These publications can be assessed in the House of Commons Library, with the exception of the February 1989 edition of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics". A copy of the relevant table of this edition will be placed in the Library today. The table also indicates the standard industrial classification on which the data are based.

Import penetration ratios—latest revised data
Period SIC Published source Edition
1970–1973 1968 Economic Trends August 1977
1974–1975 1968 Monthly Digest Table 15.3 January 1983
1976 1968 Monthly Digest Table 15.3 May 1983
1977 1968 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 November 1983
1978–79 1980 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 March 1986
1980 1980 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 December 1986
1981 1980 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 February 1989
1982 1980 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 September 1989
1983 1980 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 June 1990
1984–1988 1980 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 November 1993
1993 1992 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 May 1996
1994 1992 Monthly Digest Table 15.10 June 1996

Figures are not available for the years 1989 to 1992. Publication of the import penetration figures was reinstated in the April 1995 edition of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" in table 15.10 based on the introduction of the standard industrial classification 1992. Revised figures for 1993, 1994, and 1995 figures for those industries where data are collected on a quarterly basis will be published in the July 1996 edition later this month. Import penetration figures are not available on an EU country breakdown basis. The Office for National Statistics has made no forecasts for future import penetration levels.

The 1995 figures for those industries where data are collected on a quarterly basis will be published in the July 1996 edition later this month. Import penetration figures are not available on an EU country breakdown basis. The Office for National Statistics has made no forecasts for future import penetration levels.