Exports of goods have risen in every region of the UK since last year, in what will be a welcome sign for the Government as it attempts to tackle a record high current account deficit.

Figures released by HM Revenue & Customs on Thursday showed that, in the year to September, England exported 14pc more goods than a year earlier, reaching £241.1bn, while Scotland's goods exports rose by 19.9pc to £28bn.

Exports of goods in Wales rose by 18.9pc to £16.4bn and Northern Ireland's by 13.3pc to £8.5bn.

Should exports continue to rise, they would provide a much-needed boost to the UK, which has the largest current account deficit of any country in the G7, at 5.9pc of gross domestic product at the end of 2016. The UK must increase exports and investment abroad in order to bring this deficit down.

Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, last month faced criticism after claiming that businesses were not doing enough to sell overseas.

In an interview with The House magazine, Dr Fox said the UK needed "more of our companies to think about exporting overseas".

"I can agree as many trade agreements as I like, but if British business doesn't want to export, then that doesn't do us any good."