asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the balance of investment between inward investment by other countries in the United Kingdom and outward investment by the United Kingdom in other countries, in relation to (a) the EEC, (b) the Commonwealth and (c) the rest of the world, for the most recent available year.

In 1976 United Kingdom private investment overseas amounted to £1,923 million and overseas investment in the United Kingdom private sector to £2,124 million. No geographical breakdown of these aggregate figures is available.An analysis by area of inward and outward non-oil direct investment for 1974 is published in table 19 of "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1965–75", published by the Central Statistical Office and available in the Library, 1975 figures are scheduled for publication in the Department of Industry journal, "Trade and Industry" in late April. No such area analysis is available of portfolio or oil company investment.An analysis of United Kingdom investment transactions with the EEC only in 1975 is included in Annex 6 of "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1965–75".