HC Deb 14 July 1966 vol 731 cc1690-2
7. Mr. Biffen

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that the current trends in United Kingdom imports and exports will enable the import surcharge to be removed without recourse to import quotas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jay

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave the hon. Member on 19th May.

Mr. Biffen

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall his Answer on that occasion, that he did not think there would be any likelihood of the imposition of import controls? Is he saying that, notwithstanding the high price of Zambian copper, and notwithstanding the consequences of the N.U.S. strike, he still stands by the assertion that we are not to have import controls this autumn?

Mr. Jay

With the best will in the world, and wanting to help the hon. Gentleman, I am afraid that I cannot add anything to what I said then.

Sir S. McAdden

How can the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that answer with the qualified blessing given by his right hon. Friend in answer to a question by his hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) endorsing his view that quantitative restrictions would be a good thing?

Mr. Jay

My right hon. Friend did not endorse what my hon. Friend said. It was merely a question. My right hon. Friend said that he did not quarrel with my hon. Friend's right to hold those opinions.

22. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the President of the Board of Trade what evidence he has of a deliberate holding back of imports to take advantage of the removal of the surcharge in November this year.

Mr. Darling

None.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

If there is no evidence of a likely rush of imports in November, can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Government will not introduce import quotas and regulators on imports in November?

Mr. Darling

That is a different question. I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to a similar Question by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday.

Mr. Barber

When we are considering this matter, surely it is reasonable for the right hon. Gentleman to give the House an assurance that there will not be an introduction of import quotas in the autumn? Surely this is a reasonable question to ask?

Mr. Darling

I have nothing to add to the Answer which the Chancellor gave on Tuesday.