§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
With regard to the European Community's provisional anti-dumping duties imposed under Commission Regulation 2208/96 on imports of grey cotton fabrics from China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey, (a) whether they have carried out any studies as to the regulation's likely impact on employment in the United Kingdom textile industry, and if not whether they will do so, (b) whether they support the measures, and if so why, and (c), if not, what measures, if any, they propose to take to have the regulations withdrawn.
§ Lord Fraser of CarmyllieWhen Sir Leon Brittan announced the imposition of the current, provisional anti-dumping duties on cotton greycloth on 21 November 1996, he committed the Commission to carrying out a full assessment of their likely effects on users of the product in the EU textile finishing industry. The results of the assessment have only recently been put to member states as the basis for a decision on whether the duties should be made definitive. That decision will be taken by a simple majority vote of member states. The Government will vote against any proposal for definitive duties and will encourage others to do so as well.