HC Deb 26 February 1957 vol 565 cc1014-5
6. Mr. Page

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of goods manufactured in this country which are of strategic defence importance and the manufacture of which he is accordingly prepared to sustain by sufficient tariff protection in any European Common Market arrangement so that this country is not dependent upon a foreign country for such goods in time of war.

Sir D. Eccles

No, Sir.

Mr. Page

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the protection of the tariff is removed some goods might cease to be manufactured here, that some of them are vitally important in an emergency from a strategic defence point of view, and that some of us may be hesitant about giving our blessing to the Common Market if we are not assured that those defence and strategic considerations are taken into consideration?

Sir D. Eccles

I think that the Free Trade Area should strengthen most of the industries which are commonly regarded as strategic, but I can assure my hon. Friend that if there prove to be exceptional cases we shall have to consider them for special treatment on their merits at the time.

Mr. Page

Would my right hon. Friend look into the case of the cable makers?

Sir D. Eccles

Yes, but it will be a long time before any trouble arises there.

7. Mr. Page

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, before he enters into negotiations with other European countries for the purposes of a European Common Market upon definitions of the country of manufacture of any particular goods, he will publish the results of his present questionnaires to industries concerning the proportion of work done to imported goods in preparation for sale.

Sir D. Eccles

No, Sir. The document to which my hon. Friend refers was sent to a number of trade associations on a confidential basis, and it would not be desirable to publish the replies.

Mr. Page

Will my right hon. Friend appreciate that it is a little difficult to consider the advisability of a Common Market on broad principles, and that many of us want to consider how it affects each industry? Is it not an important consideration to know in what country goods are manufactured? If I may give as an example a shirt cut out in Japan, made up in Hong Kong, the buttons being sewn on in Western Germany, who has manufactured the goods?

Sir D. Eccles

Those are very important considerations, and we shall look into them. But it would not help our negotiating position to reveal all this information in advance.