HC Deb 16 May 1995 vol 260 c199W
1990 Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the United Kingdom's trade balance for beer for the years(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c)(d) 1994. [23270]

Mr. Jack

Official statistics for the United Kingdom's trade balance in beer made from malt, including ale, stout and porter, are shown in the table:

Imports Exports Value (£000s) trade gap
1980 35,440 19,000 -16,440
1985 84,471 42,490 -41,981
1990 169,493 80,854 -88,639
1994 254,592 173,449 -81,143

Notes:

1. Because of differences in the valuation principles for imports and exports, the crude trade gap between them overstated the contribution of beer the deficit on visible trade in the balance of payment statistics.

2. The above figures exclude trade by private persons.

3. Data are provisional.