HC Deb 19 July 1967 vol 750 cc2100-1
6. Mr. G. Campbell

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in discussions with East European countries on the prices of imports into the United Kingdom of chipboard.

Mr. Jay

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Mr. Campbell

As it is difficult to assess the size of export subsidies from Communist countries, and as it is several weeks since the Government undertook to start discussions with the countries concerned, will the right hon. Gentleman give high priority to this matter, because the present situation is damaging not only to our chipboard industry but also to our forestry industry?

Mr. Jay

Yes. We are conducting these discussions. I appreciate the importance of the point made by the hon. Gentleman.

94. Mr. Brewis

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet opened discussions with Eastern European countries with regard to the possible dumping by them of chipboard supplies into this country with damaging effect to the British chipboard manufacturing industry, and with what result.

Mr. Jay

I have nothing to add to the Answer given today to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell).

Mr. Brewis

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Answer was very unsatisfactory indeed and that this matter is doing great damage to the forestry industry in Scotland where already large factories have closed down?

Mr. Jay

As I said, we are discussing this question with some of the exporting countries concerned.

95. Mr. Brewis

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now completed his investigation into the prices of chipboard imported into this country, and with what result.

Mr. Jay

The prices of particle board imported from Eastern Europe are particularly low, and we are discussing this with the countries mainly concerned. Although imports from most other sources are cheaper than British chipboard, we have no evidence that they are dumped.

Mr. Brewis

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider making an Order rather than carrying on endless discussions?

Mr. Jay

We are discussing this, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, we have to be satisfied about certain facts before we are entitled under the law to make an anti-dumping Order.

Earl of Dalkeith

Will the right hon. Gentleman treat this with much greater urgency than he has done so far, in view of the important bearing that it has on the Scottish economy?

Mr. Jay

I realise that there are strong feelings about this and I am giving it all the urgency that it warrants.