§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing the surplus or deficit in manufacturing trade which the United Kingdom had with the European Economic Community and with the rest of the world, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will publish the comparable figures for each of the previous 15 years.
§ Mr. ChannonComparable figures from 1970 are available only on the OverseasTrade Statistics basis—exports valued "free on board" (fob) or at cost leaving the country, and imports valued at cost plus insurance and freight charges (cif). Prior to 1970 the data, while 476W available, would be too expensive to assemble for non-calendar annual periods. The crude balances on this basis for the April-March periods are:
United Kingdom crude balance of trade in manufactures* (Overseas Trade Statistics basis) £ million not seasonally adjusted European Community Rest of World 12 months ending March 1971 + 396 + 1,768 1972 +286 +2,480 1973 -70 +2,029 1974 -557 + 1,634 1975 -761 +2,920 1976 -505 +4,409 1977 -807 +4,821 1978 -1,174 +6,245 1979 -2,334 +4,962 1980 -3,129 +4,574 1981 -1,168 +5,853 1982 -3,830 +5,759 1983 -5,798 +4,350 1984 -8,239 +2,873 *Standard international trade classification sections 5 to 8. Source: Overseas Trade Statistics, Department of Trade and Industry.
A better measure of the trade balance is provided on the balance of payments basis with insurance and freight costs excluded from imports as well as exports. Data on this basis are available from 1980 by calendar quarter and the balances for the periods corresponding to those above are:
United Kingdom balance of trade in manufactures* (Balance of Payments basis) £ million not seasonally adjusted European Community Rest of World 12 months ending March 1981 -613 +7,182 1982 -3,400 +7,268 1983 -5,082 +6,095 1984 -7,372 +4,985 *Standard international trade classification sections 5 to 8. Source: Overseas Trade Statistics, Department of Trade and Industry.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the European Community Countries' imports of manufactured goods came from the United Kingdom in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what was the comparable percentage in the same period for 1971–72.
§ Mr. ChannonThis information is published in table E3 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, Annual Supplement No. 5 1984", a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the output of the United Kingdom's manufacturing industry was exported to the European Economic Community in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ChannonIn the 12 months to September 1983, 10.5 per cent. of United Kingdom manufacturers' sales went to the other nine countries of the European Community.