HC Deb 22 May 1989 vol 153 cc390-1W
Mr. Douglas

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of the balance of payments; current, visible and in manufactures, between the United Kingdom and(a) the whole world and (b) the total European Community, for the year 1988; and what was the balance of trade in manufactured goods between the United Kingdom and (i) the whole world, (ii) the total European Community, (iii) each member country of the European Community, and (iv) Japan, for the year 1988.

Mr. Alan Clark

Estimates on a balance of payments basis for the United Kingdom current account, visible trade, and trade in manufactures, for 1988 are as follows:

Balance of Payments £ billion
Balances
Current account Visible trade Manufactures
World -14.7 -20.6 -14.4
European Not yet
Community available -13.5 -12.6

The balances of trade in manufactured goods for 1988 were:

Table 2
Overseas trade statistics basis1, £ billion (provisional)
£ billion
World -17.3
European Community -13.4
France -1.1
Belgium and Luxembourg -0.6
Netherlands -1.9
Federal Republic of Germany -8.7
Italy -1.8
Irish Republic +0.5
Denmark -0.1
Greece +0.2
Portugal
Spain +;0.3
Japan -4.9
1 Exports fob less imports cif.