asked the Taoiseach why the adverse balance of trade for the first four months of 1968 is £10 million greater than it was for the first four months of 1967.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Adverse Trade Balance.
2.
The estimated increase of £10 million in the import excess in the period January to April, 1968, compared with the corresponding period in the previous year is made up of an increase of £24½ million in imports offset by an increase of £14½ million in total exports. Detailed commodity data are not yet available but preliminary indications are that imports of raw materials and fuels increased by about £3½ million, imports of chemicals rose by £3½ million and that imports of manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment increased by about £14 million. In the same period provisional figures indicate an increase of about £5 million in exports of live animals, food and food preparations and an increase of about £6½ million in exports of manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment.
There is no use my asking the Parliamentary Secretary supplementary questions designed to elicit from him his appreciation of the inflationary indication of this deterioration in the balance of trade, which, apparently, tends to grow graver with the passage of months.
The Deputy will agree that as compared with ten or 11 years ago, the position is far better.
I do not.