§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what consultations he has had with the Trades Union Congress about whether compensation trade deals with COMECON countries are in the best interests of its members.
§ Mr. Meacher,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 1 February 1979; Vol. 961, c. 539], gave the following information:
While my right hon. Friend has not had formal discussions about compensation trade deals with Eastern Europe or elsewhere with representative organisations, this is one subject he will shortly be discussing in a wider meeting with representatives from both sides of industry. There is of course no necessary link between any potential trade threat created by the build-up of East European industries and counter-trade.