§ 11. Mr. Robert Howarthasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that certain British importers of Portuguese cotton goods are threatening to take legal action against the Portuguese 535 cotton industry on the grounds that there has been non-delivery of outstanding orders; and if he is satisfied that the agreement reached between Her Majesty's Government and the Portuguese Government limiting cotton imports into the United Kingdom is working effectively.
§ Mr. JayI have seen reports of difficulties of this kind, but on the general question of imports from Portugal I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 15th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 471–2.]
§ Mr. HowarthWe appreciate the protection which has been given by the present Government, but will my right hon. Friend now take steps to ensure that the protection covers the problem of a greater degree of categorisation and introduce also, where possible, particularly with reference to Portugal, for example, a quarterly import quota system to prevent bunching at a particular time of the year?
§ Mr. JayOn the question of the main global quota on textile imports, we cannot go back, in the middle of the period, on the agreement which we have already reached. As regards Portugal, I am in consultation with Portuguese Ministers. If my hon. Friend looks at the figures, he will see that, as I predicted, textile imports from Portugal have been falling in recent months.
§ Sir Frank PearsonCan the right hon. Gentleman give the House details of the agreement which he has been able to reach with Portugal, or, if he cannot tell us now, when will he be able to inform us?
§ Mr. JayNo, Sir. I have already said all that it is wise to say if the objectives, which the hon. Gentleman has as well in mind as I have, are to be served.