asked the Minister for Finance the present balance of payments deficit and the amount of net transfers of resources from the EEC in respect of the latest year for which figures are available.

The publication Economic Background to the Budget 1981 contains the latest published estimate of £750 million for the 1980 balance of payments deficit.

The latest estimates of net transfers from the European Communities, published by the CSO on a balance of payments basis, relate to 1978 and show a net transfer of £349 million in that year. Figures for 1979 are expected to be published in the next few weeks.

Can the Minister give us the estimated deficit for 1981 — is it expected to be in the order of £1,200 million?

The Deputy will be interested to know that I commented on that in my speech here last night. At this time of the year one cannot be sure what the deficit will be, but I should like to comment on the lack of patriotism the Deputy has been displaying in his speeches. The answer is that at this time of the year one cannot be sure what the figure will be.

What does the Minister expect it to be?

If the Deputy will put down a question——

There is a question on it.

There is a question out of which this clearly arises.

The balance of payments deficit estimated for 1980 is as I outlined in the reply.

We are now in 1981. What is the estimated figure for this year? Will it be £1,200 million? What is the Minister getting from his advisers?

It is difficult to say at this time of the year.

The Minister is afraid to answer the question.