HC Deb 29 February 1984 vol 55 c177W
42. Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the net balance of trade for the chemical industry in the year 1982–83 and the estimate for 1983–84.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Comparing exports valued fob and imports value cif, there was a crude surplus of £1,874 million in trade in chemicals and related products in the financial year, 1982–83. I should prefer not to hazard a guess at the exact figure for the current financial year, but the corresponding figure for the 1983 calendar year was a surplus of £1,810 million.