§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the balance of trade in food in each year since 1985.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 6 March 1995]: Imports and exports of food, feed and drink as recorded in the overseas trade statistics in each year since 1985 are shown in the table below. There has been a much bigger increase in exports than in imports since 1985. This has served to limit the increase in the difference between them—the crude trade gap—which has fallen by 22 per cent. in real terms.
Category (c)applications received Assessed as eligible Anglia 142 0 East Midlands 205 7 North East 243 50 Northern 650 161 North Mercia 136 30 South East 241 0 South Mercia 224 7 South West 507 64 Wessex 212 15 Total 2,560 334