To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide a breakdown of the figures underlying the figures for net exports of fuel in 1991 given in his press notice of 27 January; and if he will indicate how imported electricity from France is treated in the calculation.
[holding answer 3 February 1992]: The convention used in the balance of payments, when comparing imports and exports, is to record figures on an "f.o.b. basis" (i.e. free on board). The figures used in the Department's press notice of 27 January are consistent with the balance of payments figures published by the Central Statistical Office on the same day. Figures on electricity imports are included and were obtained from Customs and Excise data in the same way as those for other fuels. Figures for 1991 are as follows:
n/a Figures on an f.o.b. basis are not available separately for fuel categories other than oil.
— Less than £0·5 million.