§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what overall assessment he has made since assuming office of the trends in the balance of payments of the United Kingdom trade in energy—including the channel link—other than in oil; and where such assessments are published, what distinction he draws between his responsibilities for attaining a balance or surplus of trade in this commodity, as compared to any other.
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§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 19 October 1992]: The balance of payments deficit for United Kingdom trade in energy, other than in oil, in 1991 was £1,260 million, broadly the same as in the last five years. Data are published by the Central Statistical Office in the 1992 Pink Book, "UK Balance of Payments".
The Department does not aim to maintain a trading surplus in any particular commodity or fuel but rather to ensure that overall the United Kingdom remains competitive with the other trading nations of the world.