§ 50. Mr. FatchettTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth in the volume of United Kingdom exports in the last financial year; what was the growth in the volume of imports; and what was the effect on the balance of payments.
§ Mr. MajorIn the financial year 1986–87 the volume of exports of goods grew by 6½ per cent. on the previous year while the volume of imports of goods grew by 8½. per cent. The current account of the balance of payments moved from a surplus of £3.8 billion in 1985–86 to a deficit of £1.1 billion in 1986–87.