HC Deb 19 July 1960 vol 627 cc228-30
17 and 18. Mr. Slater

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why he is allowing imported electrical goods into this country, since such permission adversely affects the home market and deprives United Kingdom workers of jobs;

(2) what guarantee of protection is given to the electrical manufacturing industry against an increase in imports which would directly or indirectly affect it.

Mr. Maudling

It is our policy to use the tariff as the normal means of protection and to remove our remaining import restrictions as soon as we can.

Mr. Slater

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that, apart from what he had to say in reply to Question No. 9 by my hon. Friend the Member for Durham (Mr. Grey), there is no justification whatever for allowing these Japanese radio sets to be imported in this way and thus deprive many of our people of work? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the electrical industry offers the prospect of increased employment for many of our young people on leaving school? Is he further aware—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."] Hon. Members ought to realise that I have asked two Questions. Is the President of the Board of Trade further aware that juvenile unemployment in Durham county has gone up by no less than 25 per cent. over the last month? What is to be done about this?

Mr. Maudling

The policy of relying on the tariff to protect our industry is an inherent part of our membership of G.A.T.T., which has been the agreed policy of both sides of the House for a long while. The tariff on foreign electrical goods varies from 10 to 33 per cent., which seems to me a fairly reasonable level of tariff protection. If we do not let electrical goods come in, we cannot, of course, expect to export them. Last year, whereas we imported £40 million worth, our exports totalled £231 million.

Mr. Slater

Does not the President of the Board of Trade agree that, in view of the high incidence of unemployment in various parts of the country, every positive step should be taken to safe guard the employment of our people in those areas which depend upon the productive capacity of employment of this nature?

Mr. Maudling

To try to protect our industries by imposing quotas contrary to the rules of G.A.T.T. would, in the long run, do more harm to our trade than good.