§ Baroness Hornsby-Smithasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to curb the excessive imports from Portugal of socks, tracksuits, other knitted outerwear, blouses, dresses, trousers and baby wear, which if unchecked could result in the loss of up to 5,000 jobs in the textile industry.
§ Lord BelsteadMy right honourable friend the Minister for Trade met the Portuguese Under-Secretary of Commerce last week and made clear the United Kingdom Government's concern about the extent to which the agreed restraint levels for 1983 on certain textile and clothing products had been exceeded and the growth in imports of some products which are not currently subject to restraint.