HC Deb 21 June 1971 vol 819 cc190-2W
74. Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an up-dated version, for the years 1958 to the latest available date, of Table 11 in the White Paper, "Britain and the European Communities", Command Paper No. 4289.

Mr. Noble

The following table provides figures for 1958 and 1970:

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which products exported to the European Economic Community will benefit from a larger market by the achievement of economies of scale in production or marketing.

Mr. Noble

Potentially there would be opportunities for all British products. Much would depend on the enterprise shown by individual firms in exploiting the opportunities of the larger market.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry since the size and structure of the British steel industry are matters for the British Government, what powers the European Coal and Steel Community would have over the British steel industry in an enlarged European Economic Community.

Mr. Ridley

Those powers deriving from the Treaty of Paris, the overall objective of which is to secure a situation of orderly competition within the Community.

Sir R. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the loss of trade between Great Britain and Australia if Great Britain were to enter the European Economic Community without obtaining any exemption from the Common Agricultural Policy for imports from Australia.

Mr. Anthony Grant

No reliable estimate is possible but a wide range of Australian exports to Britain are not covered by the Common Agricultural Policy. It has been agreed in our negotiations with the E.E.C. that where the application of that policy threatens to cause serious difficulties for significant volumes of trade from third countries, it is the intention of the enlarged Community to take effective measures to deal with disruption.

Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent imports of newsprint and woodpulp from Scandinavia and elsewhere, which would be duty-free in accordance with his recent statement, would be subject to quota restrictions if Great Britain were to join the European Economic Community.

Mr. Ridley

We are assured of duty free imports of woodpulp without quantitative limit. As regards newsprint the duty free quota would be for needs in excess of domestic production.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the application of the Common Market's policy on the ending of state monopolies and the unrestricted market in trade and goods will have to be applied to Great Britain's state industries on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and what effect this will have on these industries.

Mr. Ridley

The measures agreed by the Community as regards State Monopolies refer to specific goods, for which no monopoly exists in the United Kingdom. Our nationalised industries will not be affected.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the application of the Treaty of Rome's rules on competition will affect the copyright fees on tape recordings for British firms on Great Britain's entry into the Community.

Mr. Ridley

These fees are negotiated by copyright owners. I know of no reason why they should be affected.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the application of the Treaty of Rome rules or the provisions dealing with sales and dealership arrangements which involves fixed prices would apply on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community generally and with regard to the radio and television industry in particular.

Mr. Ridley

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Article 85 of the Treaty of Rome which contains a general prohibition on restrictive agreements and practices between companies which affect trade between the member states of the E.E.C. This Article and the Regulations made under it would apply to British industry, including the radio and television industry, in the same way as they now apply to industry in the Six.