HC Deb 18 December 1970 vol 808 cc511-3W
Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation in the current session of Parliament to implement the new preferential arrangements for developing countries agreed by the Trade Board of the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development.

Mr. Anthony Grant

I refer the right hon. Member to the Answers my right hon. Friend gave to him and to the right hon. Member for Kettering (Sir G. de Freitas) on 30th November and to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Normanton) on 10th December.—[Vol. 807, c. 264–5; Vol. 808, c.183.]

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the new United Nations Commission for Trade and Development agreement on preferential arrangements for developing countries will come into effect.

Mr. Anthony Grant

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish) on 7th December.—[Vol. 808, c. 26–27.]

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, by what stages Commonwealth preferences will disappear in favour of the new preferential arrangements for all developing countries.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Like other major developed countries we intend to implement the new preferences for developing countries in one step. Thus Commonwealth countries will from the outset share their existing preferences with developing countries generally on products covered by our scheme.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that the potential loss of trade by Commonwealth Caribbean countries in the United Kingdom, as a result of their competitors having access to the United Kingdom market under the new United Nations Commission for Trade and Development agreement, will be fully compensated by their access to other markets; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Anthony Grant

We are not proposing to grant generalised preferences on the main imports from these countries now enjoying Commonwealth preference. Access to other markets will offer opportunities for trade and investment but I cannot assess in advance what benefits may result. We shall be able to take this into account when reviewing the operation of our scheme.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements have been made for Hong Kong to participate in the new United Nations Commission for Trade and Development system of generalised preferences.

Mr. Anthony Grant

On behalf of Hong Kong we have claimed the benefit of generalised preferences for their exports and we are discussing possible arrangements with other major industrialised countries.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement describing the main exceptions to the general rule that manufactured goods and processed foodstuffs from developing countries will shortly be admitted duty-free to the United Kingdom under the new United Nations Commission for Trade and Development agreement.

Mr. Anthony Grant

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Normanton) on 10th December.-[Vol. 808, c.183.]

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the list of exceptions to duty-free entry under the new United Nations Commission for Trade and Development agreement is subject to alteration if the United Kingdom becomes a member of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Our preferential arrangements would be assimilated to those of the Community, which are likely to afford duty-free entry for all manufractures and semi-manufactures without exception but with provision for a limitation of the quantities to be imported without duty.