asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the percentage increase in relative normalised unit labour costs between (a) May 1979, (b) the first quarter of 1979 and (c) the second quarter of 1979 and in each case the latest quarter for which published figures are available; if he will give the index numbers for each date; and if he will give the published source of these figures;(2) what was the percentage increase in relative normalised unit labour costs between
(a) the first quarter of 1974 and (b) the fourth quarter of 1974 and in both cases (i) the first quarter of 1979 and (ii) May 1979;
(3) what was the percentage increase in relative normalised unit labour costs between May 1979, or the second quarter of 1979, and the first quarter of 1981;
(4) what are the advantages and disadvantages of using (a) actual and (b) normalised relative unit labour costs as a measure of United Kingdom competitiveness; and which of these measures is most widely used internationally.
I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.