HC Deb 21 December 1955 vol 547 cc346-7W
Sir A. Bossom

asked the President of the Board of Trade to give the figures for the sales of canned and deep-freeze vegetables, quarter by quarter, since December, 1954, both for home-produced and those imported.

Mr. Low

The information available is as follows:

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade does not extend to shipping questions, and it would not be appropriate to seek to raise the question of flag discrimination with the contracting parties.

The subsidy provisions of the Agreement, however, are in general terms which Could cover subsidies for the building of ships. Under these provisions any member granting a subsidy which operates to increase exports or to reduce imports of any product, and which causes or threatens serious prejudice to the interests of any other member, shall upon request discuss the possibility of limiting the subsidisation. If the shipbuilding industry have evidence to show that any member of the G.A.T.T. is applying a subsidy which has these effects, I shall be glad to examine it and to consider whether to take the matter up as my hon. Friend suggests.