§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the balance of trade and measures to reduce the manufacturing deficit.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIn the three months to January there was a deficit in manufactures of £3.1 billion compared with a deficit of £4.3 billion in the previous three months; this is clear evidence that the trade balance is now responding to the tightening of policy.