§ Mr. Skeetasked the Minister for Trade (1) of the non-oil balance of trade for the 12 months to November 1982 of minus £2,390 million, if he will indicate the principal components in this figure;
(2) of the non-oil balance of trade of minus £2,390 million in the 12 months to November 1982, if he will summarise the principal items that have marked the change since the recorded surplus of £442 million in 1978.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe information requested is as follows:
United Kingdom trade on a balance of payments basis Visible balance £ million, seasonally adjusted 1978 December 1981/November 1982 Food, beverages and tobacco -2,792 -2,720 Basic materials -2,165 -1,988 Fuels -2,136 +3,799 (of which oil) (-1,984) (+4,283) Semi-manufactured goods + 1,321 +938 Finished manufactured goods +3,745 + 1,564 Miscellaneous goods +485 +300 Total trade -1,542 + 1,893 (of which non-oil) (+442) (-2,390)