§ Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of United Kingdom steel needs is currently met by imports from the European Community countries; and what provisions are available to restrict such imports.
§ Mr. ButcherCommunity imports accounted for 18 per cent. of total steel deliveries to the United Kingdom market in the 10 months to October 1982, the most recent month for which figures are available. The Government have no powers to restrict such imports. They are, however, determined to ensure that the ECSC anti-crisis measures (which include production quotas for steel producers and price rules), which have recently been strengthened, are rigorously enforced throughout the Community so as to prevent unfair import competition from other member States.
Crude Steel Production Thousand tonnes 1967 1972 1977 1981 1982 (Jan.-Nov.) West Germany 36,744 43,705 38,985 41,610 33,779 France 19,655 24,089 22,097 21,258 17,287 Italy 15,890 19,815 23,334 24,777 22,277 Netherlands 3,402 5,585 4,927 5,472 4,109 Belgium/Luxembourg 14,192 19,989 15,585 16,074 12,449 United Kingdom 24,279 25,321 20,411 15,573 12,969 Irish Republic 65 77 47 32 54 Denmark 401 498 686 612 521 Greece 210 675 759 909 *687 * January-September. Source: UN/ECE; OECD; EURO/STAT.