asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Leighton) on 9 December, Official Report, c. 970, that British competitiveness had fallen by 18 per cent. from May 1979 to date, if he will describe the method used to calculate this figure, its source and basis; and whether all figures used in the calculation already appear in published form.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.