§ 19. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade, what representation he has had regarding the dumping of alarum clocks in the United Kingdom; and what reply he has sent.
Mrs. DunwoodyThe British Clock and Watch Manufacturers' Association has complained that alarm clocks from Eastern area countries are being sold at unduly low prices with damaging effects on the British industry. The complaint was made to the Ministry of Technology and is under investigation by that Department and the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIs the hon. Lady aware that it is alleged that these clocks are coming into this country at a third of the cost of production? Will she bear in mind that the majority home production of the clocks is in Scotland and that unless action is taken there may be serious repercussions in Scotland?
Mrs. DunwoodyThe hon. Member will be aware that we are seeking extra powers to amend the anti-dumping Act in order to investigate this kind of thing.
§ Mr. SteeleIs my hon. Friend aware that when my hon. Friend the Member for Motherwell (Mr. Lawson) and I made repeated representations to the Board of Trade and previous Ministers there about this matter a considerable time ago we were promised that something would be done and that a full investigation would be made? May we have some information about that now?
Mrs. DunwoodyMy hon. Friend will be aware that in 1963 there was an application for action against dumped alarm clocks and the Board of Trade then found that there was not sufficient evidence of material injury or threat of injury to the industry established in that instance.
§ Mr. LawsonIs my hon. Friend aware that these alarm clocks are made exclusively in my constituency and the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele)? We were given assurances that the Board of Trade itself would investigate thoroughly these complaints and would not leave it entirely to the trade. Are we to take it that nothing happened in this connection?
Mrs. DunwoodyThere has been an investigation into the effects of alleged dumping. We shall certainly bear very much in mind the views of my hon. Friend.