HC Deb 18 January 1971 vol 809 cc188-9W
Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he will now take to ensure that major barter agreements involving the sale of capital and industrial manufactured goods and projects do not cause the excessive importation of foodstuffs and horticultural products at well below domestic prices.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Imports of certain agricultural and horticultural produce from Eastern Europe, which I assume my hon. Friend has in mind, are controlled by quotas, which are very small in comparison with total supplies. There are well known arrangements for dealing with any complaints about import prices.

Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all trade agreements involving the import of agricultural products and the quotas in each case for the last convenient period of 12 months; what proposals he has for increasing or reducing such quotas in the succeeding period of 12 months; and what negotiations are in progress or anticipated in the near future when such quotas will be discussed.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Her Majesty's Government have trade agreements or arrangements with Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Soviet Union. I would refer my hon. Friend to issues of theBoard of Trade Journal dated 8th October, 1969, 17th December, 1969, 14th January, 1970, 4th February, 1970, 25th February, 1970, and 22nd April, 1970, which contain details of the quotas for imports into the United Kingdom of agricultural products from these countries during the twelve month period ending 31st December, 1970, or, in the case of Bulgaria, 31st March, 1971. Subsequently the Romanian quota No. 4 has been increased to £250,000, the Czechoslovak quota No. 39(a)(i) has been increased to £285,000 and the Polish quota No. 3(ii) has been increased to £2,080,000. I am not able to forecast the level of future import quotas in advance of discussions with the countries concerned but I do not foresee the likelihood of reductions in the level of any agricultural import quotas. These are agreed annually and discussions with officials of the Governments of the countries concerned will take place during the next few months.