HC Deb 29 February 1984 vol 55 cc192-3W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report for the years 1970 to date a table showing for the European Economic Community and for the rest of the world (a) the trade balance in manufactures less precious stones on a balance of payments basis, (b) the balance of trade less oil and precious stones on the same basis and (c) the ratio of exports to imports in each case.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The available information is as follows:

United Kingdom trade with the European Community and rest of the world
£ million BoP basis
Manufactures* less precious stones† Total trade less oil‡ and precious stones
Visible balance Ratio per cent. Visible balance Ratio per cent.
European Community Rest of World European Community Rest of World European Community Rest of World European Community Rest of World
1970 + 454 +2.092 133 181 +55 + 376 103 108
1971 + 245 +2,695 116 201 - 228 +1,056 90 121
1972 - 122 +2,213 94 173 - 603 + 508 81 109
1973 - 642 +1,975 81 147 - 1,423 - 372 70 95
1974 - 783 +2,667 84 147 -2,086 + 13 69 100
1975 - 843 + 4,465 84 176 -2,386 +2,023 69 120
1976 - 952 +5,502 87 176 -2,389 +2,069 76 116
1977 -1,099 +6,577 88 176 -2,486 +2,607 80 118
1978 -2,186 +6,890 80 177 -3,323 +3,555 77 124
1979 -2,850 +5,223 80 146 -4,144 +1,452 77 108
1980 -1,296 +6,683 91 150 -2,259 +3,446 87 117
1981 -2,601 +7,285 82 152 -4,070 +4,233 78 120
1982 -4,433 +6,778 75 143 -6,187 +4,088 72 118
1983|| -5,294 +3,723 66 127 -6,792 +1,388 66 107
* Standard International Trade Classification sections 5 to 8.
† Taken as Standard International Trade Classification Division 66.
‡ Taken as Standard International Trade Classification Section 3 (Fuels).
║January to September 1983.

Note: Trade in oil by country is not available on a balance of payments basis.