asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the annual value of output of the chemical industries in Scotland and England and Wales, respectively, over the last five years.

Separate country information for 1970 and 1971 cannot be published because it does not meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. The figures for 1972 and 1973 are being examined and, if they satisfy the requirements of the Act, they will be published in due course. It might, however, be some time before the necessary checking can be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what, in percentage terms, is the proportion of Scottish chemical output to that of the United Kingdom as a whole, on a product-by-product basis.

It is regretted that this information is not available. Figures on a product-by-product basis for Scotland cannot be published because they do not meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947.