HC Deb 13 March 1981 vol 1000 cc429-30W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the average annual deficit or surplus in trade in manufactured goods with the European Economic Community and with the rest of the world, respectively, since the date of the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community; and if he will also publish the average annual deficits or surpluses, respectively, for a comparable period of years before accession.

Mr. Parkinson

[pursuant to his reply, 9 March 1981, c. 231]: Because of the impact of inflation, the use of averages over such a long span of years is likely to be misleading. The crude balances for the individual years are as follows:

United Kingdom Crude Balance of Trade in Manufactures* with the European Community† and the Rest of the World
European Community £ million Rest of the World£ million
1965 +315 +1,527
1966 +314 +1,606
1967 +206 +1,336
1968 +246 +1,394
1969 +457 +1,662
1970 +462 +1,772
1971 +329 +2,442
1972 +22 +2,082
1973 –416 +1,745
1974 –747 +2,325
1975 –640 +4,106
1976 –667 +4,799
1977 –910 +6,038
1978 –2,026 +5,664
1979 –3,081 +4,262
1980 –1,766 +5,341

Notes:

* SITC 5 to 8.

† Including Greece, Denmark and Ireland throughout.

‐ Figures have as far as possible been adjusted onto a 1981 classification basis. However, there remains a very small discontinuity between 1974 and 1975. Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

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