§ 14. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the present state of negotiations on a renewed multi-fibre arrangement.
§ 15. Mr. Woolmerasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the present state of negotiations on a renewed multi-fibre arrangement.
§ 18. Dr. John Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the present state of negotiations on a renewed multi-fibre arrangement.
§ 24. Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the present state of negotiations on a renewed multi-fibre arrangement.
§ Mr. BiffenNegotiations for the renewal of the multifibre arrangement are taking place within the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. There was a two-day meeting of the GATT textiles committee on 7–8 May in Geneva, and talks will resume there in the week beginning 13 July.
Within the Community, we are currently studying draft proposals by the Commission for an outline negotiating mandate, and I hope that this will be considered by the Council of Ministers on 23 June. However, the decisive phase of negotiations is not likely to begin until after the summer, and a further more detailed negotiating mandate may then be necessary.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I propose to call first those hon. Members whose questions are being answered.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIs the Secretary of State aware that the European consultative document to which he indirectly referred has been made available to trade associations within the European Community? It has also clearly been made available to the right hon. Gentleman. It has not, however, been made available to hon. Members or, I understand, to any Members of Parliament within the European Community. As an early political initiative is necessary, why does not the right hon. Gentleman make the document, if possible, available to hon. Members?
§ Mr. BiffenThe hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. I shall see whether what he asks can be done.
§ Mr. WoolmerThe wool industry has seen a fall in production of 14 per cent. in the last 12 months, the manmade fibres industry, a fall of 16 per cent. and the cotton industry, a fall of over 25 per cent. Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is not therefore surprising that the trade unions and the employers are gravely concerned about what they see as major weaknesses in the Commission's negotiating position, revealed in this so-far 638 secret document? Will the right hon. Gentleman state the Government's position on the recession clause which the Commission appears not to be backing?
§ Mr. BiffenThe Government are broadly in favour of something approximating to a recession clause.
§ Dr. CunninghamDid the Secretary of State note the comments attributed inThe Sunday Times yesterday to the chief executive of Courtaulds who talked about a further rundown in the British textile industry? Is this not a matter for deep concern? In the last two years, more than 150,000 jobs in the industry have disappeared. Given that over 600,000 jobs are at stake in the British textile industry and associated industries, should not the issues be debated fully in the House before the Government commit themselves to any final decisions?
§ Mr. BiffenI have not seen the article to which the hon. Gentleman refers. However, I am of course well aware of the anxieties expressed by people in the textile industry about the problems of the recent past and of their concern about the liberal nature of any replacement or successor to the multi-fibre arrangement. I shall ensure that the hon. Gentleman's request for a debate is put to the Leader of the House. We shall see what comes of that.
§ Sir Charles Fletcher-CookeIn connection with the GATT negotiations, which according to my right hon. Friend are to precede the European Community negotiations, may we have an assurance about the American attitude, and in particular about the recent steps that the United States Government have taken to decrease their attack on the British market? Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that enough has been done?
§ Mr. BiffenWhen my hon. and learned Friend has a chance to study my answer he will realise that the GAIT and Community discussions overlap to some extent. We welcome recent moves by the United States to dismantle artificial aids to their textile exports. It is too early to judge the consequences of that.
§ Mr. Barry JonesWill the right hon. Gentleman concede that American unfair practice has hit hard the man-made fibre sector, and in particular firms such as Courtaulds? Is he aware that in my constituency 380 manmade fibre textile jobs are to go in July? What further action can he take to prevent the demoralisation of the man-made fibre industry?
§ Mr. BiffenAs the hon. Gentleman might expect, since I am a political neighbour, my answer to the first part of his question is "Yes". But my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and I had the chance to represent to Senator Brock on his recent visit our anxiety that the natural gas deregulation is proceeded with as speedily as possible. It will be appreciated that that is within the gift of Congress and not of the Administration.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonMay we have an estimate of the effect of the MFA on the employment of poor people in the Third world?
§ Mr. BiffenI cannot give an estimate without notice. It is one of the several considerations that must be taken into account by the Government and their sister nations in the Community when negotiating a successor arrangement. The consumer must not be the orphan in any arrangement.
§ Mr. John FraserWill the Secretary of State impress on the Leader of the House that it would be wrong to go into the negotiations without a mandate from the House of Commons because the subject of the arrangement is crucial to so many constituencies?
§ Mr. BiffenI shall draw the hon. Gentleman's remarks to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. They reinforce other voices on the Opposition Benches.