HC Deb 01 December 1980 vol 995 cc11-2W
21. Sir Anthony Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by what percentage the United Kingdom's imports from other European Economic Community countries have exceeded exports to those countries in each of the years 1978 and 1979; what the position is so far in 1980; and how this compares with the situation in the year immediately preceding British entry into the European Economic Community.

25. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present ratio of United Kingdom exports to the rest of the European Economic Community with imports from the European Economic Community; and what was this ratio in the year before British membership of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Nott

United Kingdom imports from other European Community countries exceeded exports to those countries by 20 per cent. in 1972, 18 per cent. in 1978 and 17 per cent. in 1979. In the first 10 months of this year there has been a considerable improvement with imports exceeding exports by only 1½ per cent.

The export/import ratio for our trade with the European Community in the first 10 months of this year was 98 per cent., a considerable improvement on the figure of 84 per cent. in 1972.