HC Deb 24 October 1986 vol 102 cc998-9W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average annual rate of increase in the EEC share of United Kingdom exports and imports on manufactures between 1972 and 1985.

Mr. Alan Clark

The average annual rate of increase in the proportion of United Kingdom exports of manufactures going to the European Community between 1972 and 1985 was 0.7 per cent. For imports, the figure was 0.9 per cent.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the United Kingdom market for manufacturers was taken by (a) the EEC six and (b) the EEC ten in 1975 and 1985, respectively.

Mr. Alan Clark

Estimated proportions are given in the table:

Share of United Kingdom Demand1 (per cent.)
Imports from: 1975 1985
EC 62 8 15
EC 103 10 17
1 Home demand for the principal products of manufacturing industry, Divisions 2–4 of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1980).
2 EC 6 comprises France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.
3 EC 10 comprises the EC 6 countries, plus Greece, Denmark, the Irish Republic and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the United Kingdom's share of EEC ten imports of manufactures in each year since 1980.

Mr. Alan Clark

The information is:

United Kingdom share of European Community1 imports of manufactures2
per cent.
1980 8.5
1981 8.4
1982 8.0
1983 7.8
1984 7.9
1985 38
1 Excludes Portugal and Spain.
2 Standard International Trade Classification Sections 5 to 8.
3 Provisional estimate.

Source: OECD, EUROSTAT.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the UK/EEC balance of trade in manufactured goods has been offset by United Kingdom exports of fuels to the EEC.

Mr. Alan Clark

A comparison of United Kingdom exports of fuels to the European Community and our balance of trade in manufactures with the Community in recent years is in the following table.

United Kingdom with the European Community1
Balance of Payments basis £ million
Exports of fuels2 Visible balance manufactures2
1977 1,250 -488
1978 1,404 -1,727
1979 2,779 -2,580
1980 4,355 -1,168
1981 5,702 -2,613
1982 6,466 -4,335
1983 8,412 -7,174
1984 10,045 -8,082
1985 11,676 -8,678
19864 4,449 -7,860
1 Present membership throughout.
2 Standard international trade classification section 3.
3 Standard international trade classification sections 5 to 8.
4 January—September.

Source: Department Trade and Industry.