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Mr. Dell
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will provide, on a balance of payments basis, the total visible trade deficit in 1973 first with the other eight members of the EEC and secondly with all those countries with which the United Kingdom was a member of EFTA up to the end of 1972.
Sir G. Howe
Following is the available information for 1973:
| £ million | ||
| EEC | EFTA as in 1972 | |
| Trade deficit on balance of payments basis | 1,120 | n.a.* |
| "Crude" trade deficit† | 1,168 | 776 |
| * The deficit on a balance of payments basis with countries which were members of EFTA in 1972 is not being compiled for 1973 | ||
| † The "Crude" trade deficit represents the difference between imports cif and exports fob as reported in the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom | ||