§ 13. Mr. Edelmanasked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from British motor manufacturers in connection with the dumping of Renault motor cars for eventual resale to private hire companies; and, in view of the damaging effect which this dumping has had on firms who manufacture taxi-cabs, what action he is taking to prevent this form of unfair competition.
§ Mr. ErrollI have had no representations from the British motor manufacturers. It is open to them to apply for action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957 if they can show some evidence that dumping is taking place and is causing or threatening material injury to the British industry.
§ Mr. EdelmanIs not it an undoubted fact that, during the recession of 1958, the Renault manufacturers brought back from the United States a large number of Renault cars, dumped them at Southampton and then issued them to the minicab proprietors, thus introducing two elements of unfair competition, firstly to the men in my constituency who make London's taxicabs, and, secondly, to the operators of minicabs who, because of these preferential arrangements, have been able to undercut the legitimate operators?
§ Mr. ErrollIt is up to the industry concerned—or one particular firm manufacturing a specialised article—to make application to the Board of Trade under the Act. As I have said on a number of occasions, the Board of Trade is only too willing to hold informal talks with a minimum of delay at an early stage with an industry to see whether any application is likely to succeed and to help the industry in framing its application in the most favourable light.
§ Mr. LiptonWill the President also have informal talks with the Home 1545 Secretary about the present situation in London arising from the minicab development?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat question is not for this Minister.