§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost to the balance of payments of the import of refined petrochemical products in each year since 1975; and if he will express that as a percentage of total imports.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe value of imports of refined and semi-refined petroleum products is given below:
Value (£m) Value as percentage of total visible imports 1975 699 2.9 1976 930 3.0 1977 968 2.7 1978 998 2.4 1979 1,550 3.2 1980 1,802 3.6 1981 2,123 4.1 1982 2,326 4.1 1983 2,423 3.7 *1984 4,231 5.4 * Provisional; All figures include process oils which are used in the United Kingdom as a refinery feedstock.