HC Deb 13 March 1968 vol 760 cc1356-7
15. Mr. Dempsey

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the dumping of clocks in the United Kingdom; what were the terms of his reply; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

Complaints have been made to the Board of Trade and Ministry of Technology by the British Clock and Watch Manufacturers Association and by my hon. Friends, the Members for Motherwell (Mr. Lawson) and Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele). They related to low-priced imports of alarm clocks from eastern area countries. We are in correspondence with the Association about the effect of these imports—which are limited by quotas—upon the home industry.

Mr. Dempsey

Have not these imports increased recently, in some cases by as much as 25 per cent.? That impression is going around with the belief that it will undermine severely the market in this country.

Mrs. Dunwoody

The import of cheap alarm clocks is controlled by quota and obviously we should not agree to a quota which we felt would be materially damaging to our own industry.

Mr. Younger

Although this importation is limited by quota, does not the hon. Lady agree that the quota allowed makes for a very large comparison with British production? A lot of jobs are at stake if this is allowed to go on.

Mrs. Dunwoody

We are sympathetic to the difficulties our industry is facing but some of them are due to the competition it is getting from low-priced clocks in export markets.

Mr. Lawson

Would my hon. Friend tell the House whether the Board of Trade has gone back on its undertaking to bring in early legislation on this occasion since this is surely a question of anti-dumping legislation?

Mrs. Dunwoody

Under no circumstances whatsoever. We are bringing this legislation before the House very shortly.