§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up a departmental inquiry to examine why the United Kingdom had a deficit in its manufacturing trade with the European Economic Community in 1983 compared with a positive balance in 1972.
§ Mr. FletcherNo, but I look forward with interest to the report by the Select Committee on Trade and Industry when it concludes its inquiry into the growth in the imbalance of trade in manufactured goods between the United Kingdom and existing and prospective members of the EC.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the 328W consequences for jobs of the deterioration in the balance of manufacturing trade with the European Economic Community since 1972.
§ Mr. FletcherThe deficit in our balance of trade in manufactured goods with the European Community reflects many inter-related factors, including the pattern of our trade in other goods and with other areas. It is not possible to assess what consequences it may have had for employment.