§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he is taking over the problem of the bunching of imports of knitwear, in the light of representations made to him by the Scottish knitwear industry.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe low-cost textile and clothing producers have undertaken to space their exports to the Community as evenly as possible, taking due account of seasonal factors. It the hon. Member has evidence that serious bunching is occurring I shall look into it.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make representations to the Government of Indonesia about the import of so-called Indonesian knitwear textiles, actually made in Hong Kong and imported into the United Kingdom in excess of the Hong Kong quota.
§ Mr. ParkinsonDiscussions are being held with the Indonesian authorities concerning the tightening up of the procedure for the issue of origin certificates for textile products exported by Indonesia to the Community. Arrangements have176W already been made by the Indonesian authorities to provide the Community with copies of the certificates of origin they issue, to act as a check on the presentation of inaccurate or forged certificates of origin at the time that these goods are imported.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he proposes to take about the problem of exports of knitwear warehoused in the Benelux countries, in the light of representations made to him by the Scottish knitwear industry.
§ Mr. ParkinsonI have received no recent representations from the Scottish knitwear industry on this subject.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will specify the exact nature of the Portuguese request for guaranteed access to the British knitwear market during the negotiations for EEC accession.
§ Mr. ParkinsonNo such request has been received.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the operation of article 115 of the Treaty of Rome concerning associated countries, in relation to the problems of the Scottish knitwear industry.
§ Mr. ParkinsonTextile goods from countries with which the Community has preferential trading agreements normally enter the Community free of formal quantitative restrictions and article 115 does not apply.