HC Deb 15 July 1974 vol 877 cc8-9
6. Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will pay an official visit to Paris to discuss matters of common interest concerning trade policy.

Mr. Shore

I hope to visit Paris after the holiday period as part of a series of visits to my opposite numbers in other Community capitals.

Mr. Tebbit

When the right hon. Gentleman goes there, will he take with him a list of this country's traditional customers who have been affronted by the refusal of the present Government to supply arms, so that the French, who are willing to do so, can get on with the job and the right hon. Gentleman can then see even more people in this country out of work as a result of the loss of arms orders and the loss of other orders that will follow from these rebuffs to foreign Governments?

Mr. Shore

The hon. Gentleman must take on board the counter-possibility that there might be an exchange between Ministers on how far they can agree on limiting arms supplies.

Mr. Jay

Has my right hon. Friend noticed that the French Government, in order to keep up the price of meat, have banned lamb imports into France from Southern Ireland? As that is contrary to all the rules of the EEC, may I ask why, if the French can break these rules whenever it suits them, we cannot act similarly?

Mr. Shore

I am not absolutely certain about the legalities of the French Government's position but I hesitate to say more about this because I think the matter is currently being discussed—with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in attendance—in the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels. I have no doubt that my right hon. Friend will put the British position with great force.

Mr. Richard Wainwright

In view of the highly developed sense of elegance and fashion among the French, may I ask my right hon. Friend to draw their attention to the fine worsted suiting and dress materials which this country is willing to sell them at a very profitable price to ourselves?

Mr. Shore

I guarantee that if and when I have a dialogue with the French Trade Minister I shall draw his attention to the need for this country to export more to France or, in other words, for France to import more from this country than it has been doing in the last two or three years.