§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent he expects the new multi-fibre arrangement being negotiated in the current year to alleviate pressures on the British clothing and textile industries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ReesI said in my statement on 24 November that I believed the groundwork had been laid for a new multi-fibre arrangement which will in many respects be tougher than the current MFA. Agreement to the renewal of the MFA on these terms has, however, still to be negotiated in the GATT textiles committee in Geneva.