HC Deb 10 December 1959 vol 615 cc711-2
1. Mr. Bullard

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the next revision of quotas under the trade agreement with Bulgaria will take place; and whether he will obtain a reduction of the quota in the case of fruit pulp.

The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. F. J. Erroll)

Negotiations with Bulgaria about trade arrangements for 1960–61 are due to take place in February next. In advance of these negotiations I cannot say what level of import quotas will be fixed.

Mr. Bullard

When the time comes to fix the quotas, will my hon. Friend bear in mind the grave dislocation which pulp imports cause to the soft fruit industry of this country?

Mr. Erroll

I will certainly remember what my hon. Friend has said.

2. Mr. Bullard

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that goods included in quotas under trade agreements made with countries in Eastern Europe are not imported into the United Kingdom through another country to which no quota agreements apply.

Mr. Erroll

These quota restrictions are applied to goods which originate in the countries concerned, whether or not they are consigned to the United Kingdom from those countries. Evasion of the restrictions by a false declaration of origin is an offence under the Customs and Excise Act, 1952.

Mr. Bullard

Will my hon. Friend take note of the fact that there is a widespread belief amongst growers and merchants that last year a great deal of pulp from Bulgaria came through Holland, and that this was outside the amount of the quota and added to the dislocation which the quota itself had caused?

Mr. Erroll

The Government have no evidence of evasion of the regulations, but if the growers can support their beliefs with some facts, we shall be glad to look into them.

3. Mr. Bullard

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are taken, when arranging quotas for various classes of goods under trade agreements with countries in Eastern Europe, to see that the circumstances of production and sale within the country concerned are not such as might require action to be taken under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957.

Mr. Erroll

Any industry which considers that it is being injured by the dumping of a product from Eastern Europe or from any other exporting country may apply to the Board of Trade for the imposition of an antidumping duty. No detailed inquiries are undertaken until such an application has been received.

Mr. Bullard

Is not it proper that the Board of Trade should have this matter in mind when conducting negotiations with those countries? Is not it nonsensical for us to negotiate a trade agreement with a foreign country that involves bringing in produce which might be produced under conditions of very low labour payment, and might involve the State concerned in a loss, and which, therefore, would amount to a subsidised export?

Mr. Erroll

No, Sir. Under the terms of the anti-dumping legislation, it is for the party which considers itself to be suffering material injury to make an application to the Board of Trade.