§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the figures for(a) export orders and (b) numbers of firms operating at a satisfactory rate in the engineering sector in each of the last 15 months. [10325]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 24 July 1997]: Figures for export orders on hand at the end of each of the last 15 months are as shown in the table:
Not seasonally adjusted £ million March 1996 10,373 April 1996 10,412 May 1996 10,101 June 1996 9,695 July 1996 9,539 August 1996 9.908 September 1996 9,909 October 1996 9,711 November 1996 9,809 December 1996 9,358 January 1997 9,346 February 1997 9,443 March 1997 9,172 April 1997 9,441 May 1997 9,308 Figures on the numbers of firms operating at a satisfactory rate in the engineering sector are not available from official statistics.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she plans to take to increase the levels of planned investment in the engineering industry. [10321]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 24 July 1997]: My agenda for pursuing competitiveness through partnership, starting with the competitiveness summit on 23 July, includes encouraging investment in industry, including the engineering industry. Engineering investment will also be encouraged by my policies for promoting technology transfer in the sector and encouraging good supply chain links. I welcome the actions of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in laying the foundations for economic stability and introducing appropriate tax changes in the Budget, which will also improve the climate for investment.