Cheese Imports

HC Deb 11 December 1968 vol 775 cc414-5

36. Mr. Peyton

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that imports of cheese during the first nine months of 1968 showed an increase of more than 17,000 tons against the corresponding period of last year at prices substantially below those ruling in the countries of origin, he will now review the efficacy of the anti-dumping legislation and consider imposing similar quotas to those concerning butter which were introduced in 1962.

Mr. Dell

No such review is necessary. The anti-dumping legislation as recently amended gives the Board adequate power to act against dumping or subsidisation that is causing or threatening material injury to a British industry. The Board normally requires British producers affected to apply for action under the legislation with supporting prima facie evidence. No application on cheese has been received by the Board.

Mr. Peyton

Is the Minister satisfied that the legislation affords adequate power? If he is, why in the name of conscience does not the Board of Trade use it? Does he not realise that to continue indefinitely this policy of absorbing other people's surpluses at throw-away prices will spell disaster for the dairy industry and a very big reversal for the country as a whole?

Mr. Dell

Answering the hon. Gentleman's first point, as I said in my original reply, there has been no application from the industry with the necessary prima facie evidence for us to act on it. As to his second point, the hon. Gentleman knows that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture made a statement in the House on 6th November, 1968, that he was discussing with the countries concerned a scheme of voluntary restraints for a period after 31st March, 1970.

Mr. Roebuck

Is my hon. Friend aware that if we enter the European Economic Community there will be no point in anti-dumping legislation, and that the cheese industry will be ruined? What does he intend to do about that?

Mr. Dell

I know that this is not a question on which I and my hon. Friend are always in agreement, but I would not accept his facts as he states them.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Does not the Minister recall that Article 93 of the Rome Treaty provides quite effective protection against dumping by fellow members of the Common Market?