§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made during the last 12 months to his opposite numbers in the other countries of the Common Market regarding the adverse balance of trade between the United Kingdom and those countries; what response he has received to his representations; and by what date he expects the adverse balance to be eliminated.
§ Mr. MeacherWe are keenly aware of the need to improve our trading performance with Europe and are, for example, devoting much effort through the British Overseas Trade Board European Trade Committee to assisting British industry's performance there. When firms come up against obstacles such as non-tariff barriers or unfair subsidies we are always ready to intervene strongly on their behalf. No representations about the adverse trade balance as such have been made. The United Kingdom-EEC visible trade deficit has been in the range of £2 million to £2.4 million in the period 1974–1976. Between the years 1975 and 1976 our visible exports to the EEC grew half as fast again as our imports from the EEC.