§ 12. Mr. Mappasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on a global ceiling for textile imports from 1966 onwards; and what duty he proposes to apply in respect of low-price imports from Commonwealth countries.
§ Mr. JayIt is our objective, in discussions with developing countries which export cotton textiles, to agree upon a total limit to our imports from them for 1966 and some years thereafter. I am not prepared to impose any duty on Commonwealth imports which at present enjoy duty free entry.
§ Mr. MappIs my right hon. Friend aware that textile imports are coming to this country even now at the rate of 33⅓ per cent. of the whole market production? Will he undertake to ensure that the negotiations he has in hand, or will have in hand shortly, will be really tough with our Commonwealth friends and more sophisticated countries? Will he be able to assure at least this side of the House that there will be a substantial instalment of our programme in respect of textiles during the summer months?
§ Mr. JayYes, my hon. Friend may be assured that we have already embarked on these negotiations and the purpose is to set some agreed limit to textile imports from these countries over the years ahead to give an assurance of stability and security for the British industry. We shall conduct these negotiations in whatever way we think most likely to achieve the result for which my hon. Friend has asked.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkWill the right hon. Gentleman take the opportunity of having a hard look at the position as it affects shirts? Will the Government constitute and avail themselves of the advice of a consultative body of people drawn from all sections of the textile industry?
§ Mr. JayWe are in close touch with the Cotton Board on the whole issue, and it is getting advice from the management and trade union sides of the industry. We are willing to listen to advice from anyone else well-informed on the industry.
§ Mr. HeathAs the right hon. Gentleman has told us that these negotiations are now under way, can he give a little more information about whether they are individual bilateral negotiations with all the countries concerned, or are on a global basis with a quota, for example, a separate Commonwealth quota and a quota for the rest of the world? Does he feel confident that these negotiations can be completed by the end of the year which, I think, is the time when the existing arrangements will expire?
§ Mr. JayThe negotiations are bilateral, although, as was stated in a public statement made after my recent meeting with the Cotton Board, we seek in future a global quota to give more assurance to the industry. I am hopeful that a conclusion will be reached before the end of the year.