§ 5. Mr. Joplingasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the length of time between his taking action to prevent the dumping of nitrogenous fertilisers and the making of a formal complaint to him.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody)The anti-dumping application was dated 22nd December. The first Order imposing provisional charges was made on 13th February and came into operation on 20th February.
§ Mr. Joplingis the Minister aware that it seems possible to get much quicker action taken over the dumping of chemicals and things of this sort than over the dumping of food? Why does the hon. Lady's Department seem much keener to protect British chemical manufacturers than British farmers?
§ Mrs. DunwoodyWhat seems obvious is that it is very difficult to get over to hon. Members opposite that this is not so. There have been two applications in respect of agricultural and horticultural products since the anti-dumping laws were altered. The rape seed—which is a facinating thought—application was made on 14th August, 1968. The Board advertised its acceptance for investigation on the 30th, and provisional antidumping charges were imposed on 30th November. There are not different criteria for industrial goods and agricultural produce, and hon. Members opposite do not assist either the farming community or themselves by continually saying that there are.