asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the trade balance in manufacturing goods between the United Kingdom and the original six member countries of the EEC in the first eight months of 1979.

In the period January to August 1979, the United Kingdom had a crude trade deficit in manufactured goods with the EEC (Six) of £2,559 million, not seasonally adjusted. Because of various distortions to the figures so far this year, assessment of the underlying position remains difficult.