§ 34. Mr. McMasterasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what duty is charged on the import of computers 583 either partly or completely assembled abroad; and what quotas or other restrictions are imposed upon such imports.
§ Mr. du CannThe duties are: full rate, 14 per cent.; E.F.T.A., 7 per cent., and Commonwealth Preference rate, nil. There are no quota or other import controls except on imports from the Eastern Area.
§ Mr. McMasterIs my hon. Friend aware of the difficulties facing the computer industry in this country? Is he aware that I.C.T. factories in Belfast are contracting and that there is a fear of greater redundancy? In these circumstances will he look at the picture again, with a view in particular to imposing the same type of quota and import duties on the import of American computers as the Americans do on the import of British computers?
§ Mr. du CannNo, Sir, I cannot give my hon. Friend that assurance. We are all aware of the problems to which he refers, but they are more concerned with rationalisation than they are with imports.