§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the balance of payments deficit or surplus with the present EEC block each year since 1960; how this is broken down on separate trade and capital accounts; and what were the corresponding figures for each of these years in regard to the original six members of the EEC.
§ Sir G. HoweNo estimates are available for the EEC of the overall balance 357W of payments. Estimates of the visible trade balance are given in the table below and information on certain invisible transactions, namely, Government services and transfers, inter-Government loans, and direct investment, with the original members of the EEC is given in the "United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1973".
Consideration is being given to estimating the United Kingdom's current and capital transactions with the EEC by means which would entail the minimum of additional form-filling.
£ million United Kingdom Visible Balance of Trade with the EEC The "Eight" The "Six" 1960 −70 −23 1961 +7 +54 1962 +108 +140 1963 +153 +192 1964 +33 +78 1965 +25 +51 1966 −13 +21 1967 −207 −141 1968 −215 −174 1969 −62 −60 1970 +93 +64 1971 −131 −90 1972 −532 −455 1973 −1,120 N/A* * Not available.