§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the value of United Kingdom exports of tobacco products was to countries outside the European Union in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; [132336]
1027W(2) what the contribution of the UK tobacco industry was to the balance of payments in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [132335]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 24 July 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Andrew Hunter, dated 28 July 2000
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions on the United Kingdom's trade in tobacco. (132336/7).The following table shows the latest estimates for UK trade in tobacco products. Figures are shown in £billion on a Balance of Payments basis and cover Division 16 of the 1992 Standard Industrial Classification—SIC(92). The balance of trade in goods is the value of goods exported less the value of goods imported.
Contribution to balance of trade Exports to non-EU in goods countries 1997 +1.0 0.7 1998 +0.9 0.6 1999 +0.9 0.6 Estimates for the tobacco industry in respect of the other components of the current account of the Balance of Payments are not available.