HC Deb 10 November 1988 vol 140 cc250-1W
Mr. Denzil Davies

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's surplus/deficit in its trade in manufactured goods with the rest of the EEC, in volume terms, in each of the financial years from 1981 to the latest available year; and what is Her Majesty's Government's forecast for the current financial year.

Mr. Lawson

[holding answer 8 November 1988]: The figures requested are available only in value terms and are presented in the table. Forecasts of trade with the EEC are not prepared.

The United Kingdom's balance of trade in manufactured goods with the rest of the European Community
£ million (BOP basis not seasonally adjusted)
1981–82 -3,468
1982–83 -5,084
1983–84 -7,640
1984–85 -8,200
1985–86 -9,210
1986–87 -9,765
1987–88 -11,030

Mr. Denzil Davies

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's (i) balance of payments and (ii) balance of trade surplus/deficit in volume terms with the rest of the EEC in each of the financial years from 1981 to the latest available year; and what is Her Majesty's Government's forecast surplus/deficit for the current financial year.

Mr. Lawson

[holding answer 8 November 1988]: The United Kingdom's current account balance with the rest of the EEC is only available in value terms and on a calendar year basis. The visible trade balance with the rest of the EEC is available on a financial year basis but again only in value terms. These figures are presented in the table. Forecasts of trade with the EEC are not prepared.

Balance with the European Community (£ million)
Current Account Visible trade (BOP basis not seasonally adjusted)
1981 973 1981–82 -721
1982 -154 1982–83 -1,161
1983 -948 1983–84 -2,889
1984 -2,317 1984–85 -2,535
1985 -2,856 1985–86 -3,538
1986 -8,831 1986–87 -8,582
1987 -13,165 1987–88 -10,518