HC Deb 14 March 1990 vol 169 cc291-2W
25. Mr. Dykes

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider direct action by his Department to improve the United Kingdom's trade deficit figures with other advanced economies.

Mr. Redwood

Exports from the United Kingdom are running at record levels. The present deficit has been caused mainly by excessive growth in domestic demand in relation to domestic industrial capacity. It is therefore a macro-economic problem which will be resolved by the sound macro-economic policies which the Government are pursuing. The Government administer a number of schemes to help promote exports.

61. Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the east and west European countries with which the United Kingdom has a trade surplus in manufactures.

67. Mr. Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the east and west European countries with which the United Kingdom has a trade surplus in manufactures.

Mr. Redwood

The European countries with which the United Kingdom in 1989 had a crude surplus in trade in manufactured goods are, in decreasing size of surplus:

  • Irish Republic
  • Spain
  • Soviet Union
  • Greece
  • Malta
  • Gibraltar
  • Bulgaria
  • Turkey
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Yugoslavia
  • Andorra
  • Faroe Islands
  • Vatican City
  • Albania

28. Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the United Kingdom's balance of trade with the EEC(a) in 1972 and (b) currently, in (i) the manufacturing sector and (ii) the financial services sector.

Mr. Redwood

In 1972 United Kingdom exports of manufactures to the countries currently comprising the EC exceeded imports by £168 million. The same comparison for 1989 shows that exports were exceeded by imports by £14.4 billion. Corresponding information on trade in financial services is not available.