§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent he estimates Great Britain's entry into the Common Market and the changeover to the metric system will affect the cost of cars and lorries, spares and maintenance; and whether he will publish his estimates in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. RidleyThese policies will affect the costs of the motor industry's products and services in many different ways. It is not realistic to attempt to isolate these effects from the many other factors that affect costs. Nevertheless I expect costs will be less than otherwise.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give an assurance that on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market, he will be able to maintain his power 18W to ban the importation of coal from any of the countries of the Six, if he should so desire.
§ Mr. RidleyNo.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the Commission of the European Economic Community is preparing to harmonise hire-purchase legislation in the countries of the Six; whether he will obtain details of these proposed directives and publish the same in the OFFICIAL REPORT; and to what extent Great Britain will be bound to implement them on entry into the Community.
§ Mr. RidleyThe Community has only just started preparing a proposal for a directive. Before entry, we shall be consulted on all new proposals. The publication of Commission proposals is a matter for the Commission. Community directives are binding on member States.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the Commission of the European Economic Community are proposing to establish a pattern of tariff preferences, the abandonment of import quantity restrictions, restructuring of industry, and the phasing out of production so far as the textile industry is concerned; whether he will obtain details of these proposals and publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT; and to what extent on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community she will have to implement these proposals.
§ Mr. RidleyI am aware of the contents of the document by the E.E.C. Commission on "Sectoral policy for the textile industry" which does not in any way commit member States and which is already public. I believe the textile industry expects to benefit from membership of the E.E.C.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community have adopted directives regarding the marketing and labelling on an identical basis of textile products including wool, silk, linen and artificial fibres; and to what extent he has implemented or intends following these directives.
19W
§ Mr. RidleyI am aware of this directive. There is no obligation on us to implement it before accession, but I have in mind the possibility that fibre content labelling might in any event be imposed in the interest of consumers.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the Council of Ministers have issued seven directives on measuring instruments dealing with European Economic Community inspection procedures, units of measurements, weights used with scales in any type of store, domestic and industrial gas meters, meters for all liquids other than water, gauging ships' tanks, and bulk measuring of grain in hectolitres; and what action he has taken, or intends taking, to operate a similar system in this country.
§ Mr. RidleyI am so aware. The action needed to implement these directives and its timing will vary from case to case. Some may require legislation.