Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the decision by the European Commission to recommend significant textile import concessions to Portugal.
§ Mr. DellI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on this subject on 18th May.
Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether textile import concessions similar to those recommended for Portgual have been granted to other countries including Spain, Greece and Turkey by the European Commission.
§ Mr. DellAs I said in reply to the Questions on this subject from the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 18th May, the EEC Commission has proposed an agreement with Portugal which would involve a number of increases in the quotas agreed by the Council of Foreign Ministers on 20th398W December 1977. No such increases have been offered to any other country.
Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he intends urgently to take up the recommendation of textile import concessions to Portugal in Brussels and press for a reversal of the Commission's recommendations as being in breach of the Community's policy.