§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the visible trade deficit within the EEC on a balance of payments basis for the last 12 months.
§ Mr. Meacher,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th July 1976],gave the following information:
Estimates of United Kingdom visible trade with the EEC on a balance of payments basis are made quarterly. The latest available figures up to the first quarter of 1976 were published inTrade and Industry for 18th June 1976 (p. 738) and show a deficit for the 12 months for the year ending March 1976 of £2,153 million.