HC Deb 15 March 1989 vol 149 c265W
47. Mr. Jack Thompson

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in which sectors of manufacturing Britain had a trade surplus in 1979; and in which Britain had a surplus in 1988.

Mr. Atkins

In 1979 the United Kingdom had a crude trade surplus in manufacturing trade in the following classes of the standard industrial classification:

Class 24 Non-metallic mineral products
Class 25 Chemicals
Class 26 Man-made fibres
Class 31 Metal goods
Class 32 Mechanical engineering
Class 34 Electrical and electronic engineering
Class 36 Other transport equipment
Class 48 Processing of rubber and plastics

In 1987, the last year for which data is available, industries with a trade surplus were:

Class 24 Non-metallic mineral products
Class 25 Chemicals
Class 32 Mechanical engineering
Class 36 Other transport equipment