Overseas Trade

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the volume of UK (a) imports from and (b) exports to (i) the European Union and (ii) the rest of the world were in (A) the latest year for which figures are available, (B) 2004, (C) 1999, (D) 1994 and (E) 1989. (266855)

[holding answer 26 March 2009]: The value of trade, including the Office for National Statistics first estimate for 2008, is shown in the following table:

*£ billion*
	UK imports of goods and services	UK exports of goods and services
	EU27	Rest of world	Total	EU27	Rest of world	Total
2008	238	223	461	208	209	417
2004	188	148	336	158	146	303
1999	142	114	256	132	110	243
1994	—	—	186	—	—	183
1989	—	—	143	—	—	124
Note: Consistent data for trade with the EU27 are not available for years before 1999. Source: ONS Balance of Payments

Volume 490: debated on Monday 30 March 2009