§ 68. Mr. John Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will ask the European Free Trade Association Council to initiate a full and detailed investigation into the trading practices of the Scandinavian pulp and paper manufacturers and paper producers in the United Kingdom market.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will request the European Free Trade Association Council to initiate a full and detailed investigation into the trading practices of the Scandinavian pulp and paper producers in the United Kingdom market.
§ Mr. NobleI took the opportunity of the E.F.T.A. Ministerial meeting last week to discuss this matter with Ministers of the countries concerned. We have agreed that there should be bilateral discussions in the first instance. I very much hope that these discussions will result in a satisfactory solution but if they do not I will consider initiating action by the E.F.T.A. Council.
§ Mr. Roger Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the unfair trading advantage conferred upon Scandinavian paper and pulp producers by subsidised fuel costs; and what steps he has taken to investigate such matters.
§ Mr. RidleyI have received no such representations.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) by what 203W amounts, and by what percentages, the prices of mechanical pulp and chemical pulp imported from Scandinavia have increased since 1967;
(2) by what amount, and by what percentage, the price of newsprint and other finished paper imported from Scandinavia has increased since 1967.
§ Mr. RidleyInformation is not available in the form requested but figures are given below showing, for selected items, the increases in the average value per ton as recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics. Average values are not true prices and may be influenced by changes in the quality of goods imported and other factors.
INCREASES IN AVERAGE VALUE PER TON BETWEEN THE FIRST QUARTERS OF 1967 AND 1971 £ Percentage Mechanical wood pulp 11 37 Chemical wood pulp 24 46 Newsprint 19 35 Uncoated Printing and Writing paper 25 37 Kraft paper and Kraft paper-board 19 27 Machine-made paper and paper-board, simply finished 12 17 Paper and paperboard, impregnated, coated etc., other than printing and writing paper 28 28