§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he is making about the fact that the EEC Commission's recently introduced regulation on origin rules for textiles and clothing was introduced without consultation with the industry, that each member State is interpreting the regulation differently and that under it Community countries are sending to the United Kingdom goods which are claimed to be of Community origin when they are the product of outward processing.
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§ Mr. MeacherSeveral trade associations covering the industry, including the British Textile Confederation and the British Clothing Industry's Council for Europe, were consulted about these origin rules during the drafting stage and some modifications proposed by the United Kingdom as a result of these consultations were incorporated in the rules which were introduced on 1st May 1978 by Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 749/ 78. The rules have been in operation for less than three months and so far there has been no indication of any significant differences of interpretation of them as between member States, or that other Community countries are sending to the United Kingdom outward processed goods for which Community origin is being claimed incorrectly. If, however, my hon. Friend will let me have details of any specific cases that he has in mind, I shall look into them.