HC Deb 11 November 1969 vol 791 cc158-9
12. Mr. Barnett

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has made to the French and Italian Governments on the restrictions they have imposed on the carriage of United Kingdom goods in their respective countries; and if he will make a statement.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Albert Murray)

The Anglo-French agreement has not yet come into force. It would be premature to raise the matter with the French Government until we know by practical experience whether the quota is inadequate, and to what extent. When negotiating the Italian agreement, the British delegation represented strongly that the quota was inadequate. An Anglo-Italian meeting will be held early next year to review the operation of the agreement.

Mr. Barnett

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Italian quota is definitely inadequate? A firm in my constituency has already used up its November quota, and cannot now deliver export orders until December. Will he make the strongest possible representations to the Italian Government with a view to increasing the quota?

Mr. Murray

There are other methods of taking goods to the Continent, but the mere fact that in the agreement we have ensured that there is a periodical review will enable cases such as my hon. Friend has put to be raised.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

In view of the representations to the hon. Gentleman about the total inadequacy of the quotas, has the Ministry conducted any investigations into the effect on our balance of payments of the loss of revenue the quota would impose on us?

Mr. Murray

Not as far as I know. But countries can exclude lorries anyway, and the point of the agreement on quotas was to get half a loaf rather than find the bakery closed.