HL Deb 20 February 1980 vol 405 cc742-4

2.57 p.m.

Baroness HORNSBY-SMITH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will request the EEC Commission to operate the price clause in relation to men's polyester/viscose suits made in Romania and offered wholesale at £10 per suit which includes 17 per cent. duty, wholesaler's profit and delivery charges and means that these garments are being landed by the manufacturer at around £6, well below cost.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, the Government asked the Commission to initiate consultations under the Price Clause of the Community's Agreement with Romania (under the Multifibre Arrangement) on 28th December, 1979.

Baroness HORNSBY-SMITH

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this will give some comfort to the firms? Is he also aware that an appalling number of suit manufacturing companies have already closed in this country? Can we be given some indication of how long these negotiations are likely to take and when we might have some resultant restriction on these grossly unfair imports?

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am aware of what my noble friend has said—that these imports have caused some difficulties. I cannot predict precisely how long the Commission's inquiries into this matter will take, but we have asked them to deal with it urgently.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, is the noble Lord the Minister aware that with the increasing price of suits, unless they come down in price, or unless we are allowed to import suits, many of us will be in danger of going about naked in the not too distant future?

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am aware of the price of suits, but all the same I am not sure whether your Lordships would be jumping to buy these suits which are imported at about £10 each.

Viscount ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this highly uneconomic procedure on the part of Romania is caused by their frantically reaching out for Western currencies in an attempt to be less dependent on Russia?

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am afraid I cannot see into the mind of the Romanian Government in this matter, but what the noble Viscount says may well be right.

Lord WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, will the noble Lord confirm that, even if we find it difficult to wear suits in this House, we shall still be expected to wear ties?

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I think that is a matter for my noble friend the Leader of the House.

Lord HALE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware—I am sure he is—that when the multifibre agreement was negotiated it was made abundantly clear that provision was expected to be made, and that no one was putting a complete bar on the importation of lower-priced materials? But the case today, and the figures quoted today on the authority of the noble Baroness, are such as to spread alarm and despondency throughout the industry. Really it is getting an impossible situation, and it is one about which the Government ought to take strong action.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, this is indeed a serious matter, but the action must be taken through the machinery of the European Community.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that there is an element of sex discrimination in this Question? For, whereas it criticises men for wearing imported suits, when a woman wears the latest Paris fashion it is looked upon as a very praiseworthy activity on her part.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I see no criticism in the Question.

Baroness HORNSBY-SMITH

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that any lady buying Paris fashions will be paying very heavily for them? We are complaining about people here being put out of work because these goods are coming in way below the economic price.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am sure my noble friend is right.