HC Deb 09 December 1985 vol 88 cc436-7W
Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the import figures for carpet and carpet fibres in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The information relating to carpets and the available information relating to yarn for carpets is as follows:

Value million (cif)
Year Carpets, carpeting and rugs Carpet yarn of polyamide fibres
1975 50 15
1976 69 23
1977 86 23
1978 113 26
1979 139 29
Year Carpets, carpeting and rugs Carpet yarn of polyamide fibres
1980 162 29
1981 179 30
1982 181 28
1983 219 37
1984 256 55

Source: Carpets—SITC/R2 Group 659 (less Sub-groups 659.1 and 651.7 and Item 651.63), Yarn—SITC/R2 Item 651.41 (part) (textured carpet yarn of continuous polyamide fibres); and corresponding headings under SITC/R1.

Note: Figures for carpet yarn for 1982 onwards refer only to the heavier duty yarns (over 50 tex).

Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has presented proposals within the framework of negotiations on multi-fibre arrangements to safeguard specialist carpet manufacturers in areas where the industry is socially and economically necessary for the well-being of the community; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

With very little United Kingdom production of knotted carpets, and most United Kingdom imports of other carpets coming from non-multi-fibre arrangement supplier countries, I consider that there is no case for any such proposals.

Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the number of persons employed in carpet manufacturing in each of the travel-towork areas in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The following information is based on 1981 census of employment data.

Number
Barnsley TTWA 686
Bradford TTWA 1,059
Huddersfield TTWA 622
Wakefield and Dewsbury TTWA 765
Calderdale TTWA 2,129
Leeds TTWA 168
Keighley TTWA 105
Skipton TTWA 35