§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the net balance of trade in deep-mining equipment in each of the past five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 4 December 1992]: The standard international trade classification, which governs the recording of trade data, does not provide for differentiation between machinery for deep mining and that for other types of coal mining, rock cutting or tunnelling. However, based on the various categories within the classification relating to this type of equipment, of which a major part will have been for coal mining, the trade surpluses in the last four years were as follows:
£ million 1988 24.5 1989 38.5 1990 34.2 1991 47.2 Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.
It is not possible to provide compatible data for 1987, as the classification in operation at that time was less detailed than the current one.