§ 41. Mr. Ridleyasked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the loss to United Kingdom exports through retaliation against the import surcharge.
§ Mr. JayNo retaliatory measures have been taken by Government. I can make no estimate of the effect of any action which may have been taken by private concerns.
§ 50. Sir Rolf Dudley Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the damage done to businesses both in this country and in the Irish Republic by the imposition of the 15 per cent. surcharge without prior consultation; and what action he proposes to take to alleviate this damage.
§ Mr. JayI am aware of a number of representations on this subject. The Government have made it clear that they regard the charge as a regrettable necessity, and that it will be relaxed and removed as soon as the balance of payments position permits.
§ 51. Lord Balnielasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulties facing the manufacturers of fibreboard cases, the raw materials of which are imported and subjected to the 15 per cent. surcharge, who are engaged in the export trade and who cannot claim the drawback unless the cases are exported empty; and what action he is taking to diminish the 110W damage this is causing to the export trade.
§ Mr. JayNo damage should arise. It is the intention that drawback should be available on such packing cases when they contain exports as well as on those exported empty. The manufacturers should consults their local Customs officers about the necessary arrangements.
§ 56. Mr. R. W. Elliottasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the imposition of the 15 per cent. surcharge is likely to lead to the loss of a valuable contract from Volvo of Sweden, which would have brought considerable employment to the North-East of England; and if he will take steps to avoid the loss of such contracts.
§ 57. Mr. Websterasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to ensure that contracts under negotiation by Engineering Production Limited of Clevedon, to specifications of firms within the European Free Trade Association and to be carried out in development districts, are not jeopardised by the 15 per cent. surcharge.
§ Mr. JayNeither the Swedish nor any other E.F.T.A. Government has taken retaliatory action against exports from this country, and I hope that importers in Sweden and other E.F.T.A. countries will be guided by this. Action taken by private concerns abroad in negotiating contracts with United Kingdom exporters is not within my responsibility.
§ Mr. Burdenasked the President of the Board of Trade how many letters, or other representations, he has received from overseas importers in which they have indicated they will either reduce or abandon imports from the United Kingdom until the 15 per cent. import surcharge is removed.