§ 24. Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the recently promulgated European Community textile industry protection regulations and on the effects he estimates these will have on the United Kingdom industry in 1978.
§ Mr. DellI would refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Madden) on 10th January.
§ Mr. ShersbyIs the Secretary of State aware that the EEC is to be congratulated on the progress of the negotiations so far? Will he, however, consider the problem of imports of wool cloth from the Argentine, which is of grave concern to the wool textile industry?
§ Mr. DellI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his congratulatory remarks. Imports from Argentina have been the subject of discussions between the industry and myself and my Department and, indeed, the Community. There is a trigger mechanism within the agreement which will help in this respect. However, I hope that the industry now takes the opportunity of investing and is not too concerned with minor problems that continue to arise.