§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether he will consider placing a temporary moratorium on the export of used textile machinery to the United States of America pending consultation on possible Government measures to aid the textile industry in the assisted areas;
(2) whether he will take steps which would result in a temporary moratorium on exports of used textile machinery originating from United Kingdom textile plants which have benefited from regional development grants and other forms of regional assistance pending a full investigation into the implications of used textile machinery exports generally.
§ Mr. Macgregor[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1981]: A moratorium, whether temporary or permanent, on the export of used textile machinery would be contrary to the United Kingdom's international obligations under article 34 of the EC Treaty and article XI of the GATT.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in any industrial assistance measures he may have under consideration, he will include measures which provide for a reduction in the level of exports of used machinery for the textile industry.
§ Mr. Macgregor[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1981]: Any scheme providing Government finance to buy up or mothball machinery to prevent its being sold abroad would be costly and arbitrary and would also cut across the Government's overriding objective of reducing public expenditure.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will monitor the effects of the unrestricted export of used textile machinery and commission an inquiry into the effects of unrestricted export sales on the capacity of the United Kingdom textile industry in any period of increased economic activity.
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§ Mr. MacGregor[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1981]: I am not aware of any evidence that the effects of exports of used textile machinery on the capacity of the United Kingdom textile industry to respond to an increase in demand are very significant: a special inquiry would not therefore be appropriate.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretay of State for Industry whether he will consult representatives of the textile industry what measures Her Majesty's Government can introduce to prevent the export of used textile machinery from the assisted areas to the United States of America.
§ Mr. MacGregor[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1981]: The Government have frequent consultations with the textile industry, at ministerial and official level, on many matters which the industry considers to be of importance.