§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many shirts were imported from India during the last 12 months and during the last six months; and how many of these shirts were licensed, respectively.
§ Mr. DellDuring the 12 months and six months ending October 1976 imports of shirts from India totalled 8.3 million and 5.5 million respectively. All shirts from India require an import licence in 313W order to enter the United Kingdom. In the case of handloom shirts, accompanied by the appropriate certificate, licences are freely issued; licences for mill-made shirts are issued against the quota.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what action is being taken to ensure that shirts imported from India outside quota restraints should not be subject to quota restraints.
§ Mr. DellFollowing the tests carried out earlier this year to check the authenticity of goods bearing handloom certificates which are imported outside the quota, I have arranged for further sample testing by the Shirley Institute. In addition, further consultations between the EEC and the Indian authorities about arrangements for 1977, which would involve quantitative assurances, took place in Geneva on 2nd December and will be followed up before the end of the year.