HC Deb 17 May 1971 vol 817 cc905-6

In the case of woodpulp and lead bullion (both key materials for industrial processing in the United Kingdom) the Common Tariff will either be completely suspended or equivalent arrangements made so that we are assured of continuing duty free access to these products even beyond the end of the transitional period.

In the case of newsprint we shall share in a Community duty free quota up to the full extent of needs not covered by domestic production. This means that our newspaper publishers will be able to buy the balance of their requirements duty free from the sources they choose including both Canada and Scandinavia. Agreement was also reached on widening the definition of newsprint to include lighter weight newsprint; otherwise some of our newspapers who use this type of newsprint would have had to pay a Common Tariff of 12 per cent.

In the case of phosphorus it has been agreed that we shall not start to apply the Common Tariff even at a reduced rate until 1977 and that it would be open to us then to apply for either suspension of the tariff or duty free quotas.

The remaining products on our list fall into two groups. In the case of plywood, arrangements have been made, including a duty free quota for certain specialised types of coniferous plywood which should continue to allow in most of our imports duty free. And for the wattle extract used by our tanners the Common Tariff will be cut by two thirds, down to 3 per cent. These arrangements for plywood and wattle extract are not limited to the transitional period.

In the case of the remaining products, silicon carbide, ferro chrome, ferro silicon, refined lead and zinc and aluminium it was established that we should be able to secure all or nearly all our needs duty free either from increased United Kingdom production or from other suppliers in the enlarged Community. And in the case of lead and zinc we shall be participating in existing Community tariff quotas which it has been agreed to adjust to take account of enlargement. Moreover in the case of certain of these products it has been agreed specifically that if the supply position were to change it would be open to us to apply for duty quotas.