§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the balance of payments in the UK in foodstuffs; and if she will make a statement. [128056]
§ Mr. BradshawThe following table shows the level of exports, imports and trade gap for the United Kingdom in food, feed and drink, for each of the last five years (1998–2002).
£ billion 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total Exports 9.2 8.9 8.7 8.5 8.9 Total Imports 17.1 17.2 16.8 18.3 19.1 Trade Gap1 -7.9 -8.3 -8.1 -9.8 -10.2 1 In the calculation of the trade gap the values of exports and imports are measured slightly differently. For exports, values include the costs allowed under "free on board" which refers to the total export values of goods leaving the country. For imports, values include the costs allowed under "cost insurance freight" which refers to the total value of the goods imported into the UK. Thus for imports into the UK the cost of transportation between the port or place of dispatch and the UK port or place of importation is included. As a result imports are overstated relative to exports by about 5 per cent. The figures are not seasonally adjusted. Source:
HM Customs and Excise Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA Crown Copyright