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Trade Statistics
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons he does not publish figures for United Kingdom share of main manufacturing countries exports in table D1 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistic", and if he will (a) publish up to date figures in the Official Report and (b) include the figures in future editions of the MRETS.
Mr. John M Taylor: The series were temproarily discontinued when MRETS was suspended, following introduction of Intrastate, during 1993-94. With the rebasing of United Kingdom volume series using 1990 weights it is necessary to rebase the volume of manufactured exports for the main manufacturing countries as a whole. This work is continuing and the series will be reinstated as soon as possible.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the share of the domestic market taken by (a) imported manufactured goods and (b) imported services for each year since 1975. [4401]
Mr. Nelson: Consistent information for each year since 1975 is not available. The following estimates are derived from input-output tables which were published every five years prior to 1989.
| Year | Manufacturing industry | Services |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 23.7 | 7.2 |
| 1979 | 25.3 | 6.1 |
| 1984 | 31.7 | 6.2 |
| 1989 | 36.0 | 3.9 |
| 1990 | 36.4 | 3.7 |
| 1991 | 35.8 | 3.4 |
| 1992 | 37.6 | 3.3 |
| 1993 | 40.4 | 3.3 |
The 1992 standard industrial classification has changed the definition of manufacturing industry. The new definition includes the manufacture of coke ovens, mineral oil processing and nuclear fuel processing and excludes mining and quarrying of materials other than coal. The table takes account of these major changes but there may still be some definitional differences between 1992 and earlier figures.
The figures only include direct trade. Services provided locally as a result of overseas direct investment are not included in these figures.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what considerations led him to cease publication of figures for United Kingdom export unit values for manufactures which have been published in table 2.15 of "Economic Trends" after the third quarter of 1994. [4557]
Mr. Oppenheim:
The publication of UK export unit values of manufactures has not been discontinued. Table 2.15 of the November "Economic Trends" contains figures up to the first quarter of 1995, the latest quarter
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for which unit value indices based on $US denominated exports are available from the International Monetary Fund.
Mrs. Roche:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for redundancies in his Department. [3708]
Mr. Lang:
The outcome of the public expenditure survey for the running costs of my Department means that to help to achieve the required rundown in staff numbers a voluntary early retirement-severance scheme is being launched immediately.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the (a) written and (b) oral evidence given by Her Majesty's Government to the International Court of Justice in respect of the legality of nuclear weapons. [3986]
Mr. David Davis:
The International Court of Justice decided on 30 October that submissions in respect of the nuclear weapons advisory opinions should be open to the public. Accordingly, copies of our written and oral statements have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Patrick Thompson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 4 and 5 December. [5284]
Mr. David Davis:
The A points listed in document 12202/95--which will be deposited in the Libraries of the House as soon as it is available--were adopted except for item 24 which was withdrawn by presidency.
The Council took note of the European Parliament resolutions in document 11507/95 PE-RE-79. A copy of this document will be deposited in the Libraries of the House as soon as it is available.
The Council agreed that the presidency should write to the Prime Minister of Estonia confirming receipt of that country's application for membership of the European Union.
The Council discussed preparations for the European Council at Madrid.
The Council agreed that the conference on economic assistance to the Palestinians should be postponed to 9 January.
The Council discussed the draft MEDA regulation, covering aid to countries in the Mediterranean region.
The Commission presented a recommendation for a Council decision on renewal of the San Jose dialogue between the EU and central America. This was remitted to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further discussion.
7 Dec 1995 : Column: 337
The Council confirmed that the Commission should continue to negotiate a new agreement with Switzerland on the basis of its existing mandate.
The Council adopted conclusions on former Yugoslavia and agreed on the appointment of a deputy to Mr. Bildt in Sarajevo. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and the Foreign Ministers of France and of Germany briefed the Council on the forthcoming London, Paris and Bonn conferences.
The Council adopted a further common position on Nigeria, covering measures additional to those in the common position of 20 November. The new common position provides for further visa restrictions, the expulsion of military personnel in Nigerian diplomatic missions in the EU and interruption of sporting contacts. The Council undertook to consider further measures in the absence of progress in Nigeria.
The Council discussed a draft mandate for a trade and co-operation agreement with South Africa.
The Council discussed the draft new technical assistance to the Commmonwealth of Independent States--TACIS--regulation but agreed to defer further consideration until the Italian presidency.
The Council agreed a position paper on the March 1996 Asia/Europe meeting to be used as a basis for EU discussion with the Asian side in the run-up to the meeting.
The Council approved conclusions endorsing the broad lines of the Commission's communication on long-term relations between the EU and China.
The Council gave its political approval, by qualified majority, to a deal negotiated with the US, Canada and Australia on compensation--as required by article XXIV.6--of the general agreement on tariffs and trade for tariff increases resulting from EU enlargement.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each scheme so far agreed under the private finance initiative the revenue commitment entered into by the Government for each year until the commitment ceases. [3395]
Mr. Hanley:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 November 1995, Official Report, column 694.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the policy changes which will arise from the final agreement in respect of each scheme agreed under the private finance initiative. [3396]
Mr. Hanley:
The agreement of schemes under the private finance initiative does not result in changes to the policy of the Government on the PFI. Agreed schemes do, however, represent the application of PFI policy and offer us the opportunity further to refine the process of implementation. The lessons learned are set out in the publication "Private Opportunity, Public Benefit". This is published jointly by HM Treasury and the private finance panel, and a copy is available in the Members' Library.
7 Dec 1995 : Column: 338
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mobile telephones there are available in his Department for the use of Ministers. [4265]
Mr. Hanley:
The Department has four mobile telephones and four car telephones exclusively for the use of Ministers.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times mobile telephones used by Ministers in his Department have been cloned during (a) the last six months, (b) the last 12 months and (c) the last 18 months; and which Ministers within his Department have had their mobile telephones cloned. [4266]
Mr. Hanley:
The then Minister of State, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Grantham, (Mr. Hogg), has his car telephone cloned twice: in October 1994 and June 1995. New numbers were allocated on both occasions.
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