To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the figure for import penetration for all the manufactured items covered by table 15.10 of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics". [4749]

The 1994 information is being prepared for publication and will be included in the December issue of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Government monitor imports of manufactures; what is the target for publication of figures for import penetration in the "Monthly Digest of Statistics"; what has been recent performance against target; and if he will make a statement. [4558]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: The Government use a range of figures to monitor the imports of manufactures. For example, aggregate figures on the imports of manufactures are published each month by the Central Statistical Office in the first releases on the balance of UK visible trade. More detailed statistics on trade with non-EC countries are published monthly in Business Monitor MM20, with corresponding statistics on trade with EC countries published quarterly in Business Monitor MQ20, both of which are published by HM Customs and Excise.The CSO aims to make all data available in the public domain as soon as possible. The import penetration figures are published in the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" on this basis. The 1994 data will be published in the December issue; this issue will include a number of presentational improvements since the previous publication.