HC Deb 10 April 1956 vol 551 cc16-7
26. Mr. Rhodes

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider making joint representations with other European countries to the United States Government about the effect of their Department of Agriculture's cotton export policy for the coming season on European trade in general and British trade in particular.

Mr. Low

As I informed the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) on 27th March, Her Majesty's Government attach importance to the United States Government's assurance that it is their intention to effect sales in an orderly manner so as to avoid disrupting world market prices. The subject will be discussed at the meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee in Washington early next month, and our representative will be instructed to give appropriate expression to our views on that occasion.

Mr. Rhodes

Is the Minister aware that that Answer will not do? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Well it will not. The heads of the cotton industry in France, Belgium, Holland and Italy have all expressed the same opinion, that it is time that joint action was taken, so that the opinion of European cotton users could be put to the American Government, that the only people who are benefiting from this lack of imagination and action on the part of the Board of Trade are the most bitter opponents of Lancashire in the cotton industry, namely, Japan, which is getting its cotton on favourable terms from America.

Mr. Low

I quite agree with the importance which the hon. Gentleman attaches to this matter, but he really should not falsify the position. We have made a series of representations at very high levels to the American Government. During the last two annual plenary sessions of the International Cotton Advisory Committee the point has been discussed, and it has been the subject of special study by the Standing Committee of that body since last year. On those two occasions other member countries joined with us in emphasising the importance of American policy to world trade in cotton goods. There is discussion with European countries and others or these matters already.

Mr. Fort

In view of the importance of this matter, not only to ourselves but to other textile manufacturing countries in Europe and also to the cotton growing areas in our Dependencies, would the Minister consider taking this matter up with O.E.E.C. in order to enlist the support of the American representatives there when making representations in Washington?

Mr. Low

I will certainly consider that suggestion, but we are already dealing with the matter through the appropriate international machinery.