To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the agricultural and horticultural trade balances (a) in the last year for which figures are available and (b) in the previous five years. [67772]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The table shows the UK balance of trade for agricultural goods (food, feed and drink) and horticultural products (fruit and vegetables) for each year from 1994 to 1998. The values shown are at 1998 prices (deflated by the Retail Prices Index).