§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on negotiations and discussions he has had with the European Commission and the Council of Ministers on textile questions, with particular reference to providing help for redundant textile workers.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkI have been asked to reply.
The Council of Ministers has agreed in principle that assistance from the European Social Fund should be made available especially towards the cost of Government-supported schemes for retraining and resettling redundant textile workers and an instrument for this purpose is being prepared.
United Kingdom officials have been, and are, involved in discussions within the council about this proposal.