§ Q6. Mr. Pawseyasked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Dunchurch near Rugby.
§ The Prime MinisterAt present I have no plans to do so.
§ Mr. PawseyMy right hon. Friend will understand that my constituents living in Dunchurch and Rugby will naturally be disappointed at that reply. Will she consider a question which they would have asked her, had she visited Dunchurch, about the effect that Greek dumping of cheap cement would have on Rugby Portland Cement? Is she aware that the dumping of that cheap cement will undermine the cement industry in the United Kingdom? Will she bear in mind that that cement is cheap because it enjoys a subsidy from the Greek Government of some 18 per cent.? Will she say what action her Administration will take to repair matters?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me notice of a matter which is of considerable importance to his constituents. My hon. Friend is right. The silo of Greek cement arrived at Tilbury on 18 June, and the United Kingdom industry fears that it will be the 1167 start of regular shipments. It has made representations about the fact that the cement is subsidised by the Greek Government. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment, will be discussing the matter with the industry's representatives shortly, but I am not over-optimistic about the result because, as my hon.
1168 Friend knows, the subsidy has been approved by the European Commission until 31 December 1986 as part of the transitional arrangements for Greece joining the Community. However, we shall do everything we can to help my hon. Friend and his constituents.