The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

Chief Secretary (1987-1989)

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Balance of Trade – 6 July 1989

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Balance of Trade on 6th July 1989.


Mr. Allan Roberts To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in visible goods in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Barron To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in visible goods in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Bidwell To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in visible goods in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Harry Barnes To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in visible goods in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Major The latest forecast of the visible trade balance in 1989 was published in the “Financial Statement and Budget Report” for 1989–90. An updated forecast for 1989, together with a forecast of the visible trade balance in 1990, will be published in the Autumn Statement in the usual way.

Mr. Livingstone To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will next provide a forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Cunliffe To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will next provide a forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Redmond To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise his forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Frank Cook To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise his forecast for the United Kingdom’s balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Graham To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will next provide a forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Illsley To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he will next provide a forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

Ms Abbott To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise his forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Major A forecast of the balance of payments will be published as usual in the next Autumn Statement.

Mr. Wareing To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revised figure for the balance of payments in the first quarter of 1989.

Mr. Adams To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revised figure for the balance of payments in the first quarter of 1989.

Ms. Armstrong To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revised figure for the balance of payments in the first quarter of 1989.

Mr. Major Latest estimates for the first quarter of 1989 show a current account deficit of £4.8 billion, an improvement of £0.8 billion over the preceding quarter.

Mr. Rees To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise his forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Lawson A forecast of the balance of payments will be published as usual in the next Autumn Statement.

Mr. Grocott To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the United Kingdom’s balance of trade in manufactured goods for 1989.

Mr. Ron Davies To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in manufacturing in 1989 and 1990.

Dr. Reid To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in manufacturing in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Callaghan To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in manufacturing in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the balance of trade in manufacturing in 1989 and 1990.

Mr. Major The “Financial Statement and Budget Report” for 1989–90 provides a forecast of the balance of trade in manufactures for 1989 only. For this forecast, I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 8 June at column 204.