HC Deb 16 May 1990 vol 172 cc439-40W
1989. Mr. James Lamond

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)

1989. Mr. Leadbitter

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)

1989. Mr. Lewis

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)

Mr. Norman Lamont

I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave on 18 April 1990,Official Report, columns 855–56.

135. Mr. Teddy Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reasons for the deficit in manufacturing trade with the European Economic Community; and what is the current export/import ratio.

Mr. Norman Lamont

The deficit with the European Community is, like the deficit with other countries, the result of domestic demand temporarily growing faster than domestic supply. The deficit will fall as demand and capacity pressures ease further. The export/import ratio in 1989 was 73 per cent.