§ 21. Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further progress has been made to date by the expert groups of the European Free Trade Association in drafting schemes of reciprocal recognition for agricultural machinery and tractors.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantDiscussions are now well advanced. It is hoped that agreement will be reached in the summer of this year.
§ 22. Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what publications are in existence, other than the European Free Trade Association Bulletin and annual reports, for British exporters and importers that provide up-to-date guides to the opportunities in the European Free Trade Association.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantOther relevant E.F.T.A. Secretariat publications are available free from the Department of Trade and Industry's E.F.T.A. Information Centre. Copies can also be seen in the House of Commons Library. Besides these the Department produces and distributes its own publications, including free Hints to Businessmen booklets. The Department's weekly journalTrade and Industry publishes information bearing on trading opportunities in E.F.T.A.; and its Statistics and Market Intelligence Library makes available a very wide range of up-to-date directories, statistics, catalogues and reports relating to E.F.T.A.
§ 35. Dr. Gilbertasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the effect on European Free Trade Association trade of the Bill on quotas and tariffs, now before the United States Congress, has been considered by the Council of the European Free Trade Association.
§ Mr. John DaviesThis Bill was fully discussed at the E.F.T.A. Ministerial Meeting in November. Ministers were unanimous in expressing their concern that its passage would lead to serious166W new restrictions on world trade. The Trade Bill was not passed before the end of the U.S. Congressional term and has now lapsed.
§ 37. Mr. Bodyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the European Free Trade Association Council has now completed its consideration of the study of the rules of competition.
§ Mr. John DaviesThe E.F.T.A. Council is still considering this study.
§ 41. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the United Kingdom will take the initiative in proposing that membership of the European Free Trade Association should be open to any developing country on a non-reciprocal or preferential basis.
§ Mr. John DaviesThe participation of E.F.T.A. countries in the Generalised System of Preferences is a more appropriate way of helping developing countries than offering them membership of E.F.T.A.
§ 42. Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what percentage trade among the nine members of the European Free Trade Association increased in the first nine months of 1970.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantIntra-trade of the European Free Trade Association, as measured by the dollar value of exports, increased by 18 per cent. between the first nine months of 1969 and 1970.
§ 43. Dr. Gilbertasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the further progress made since the meeting of the European Free Trade Association Council on 5th and 6th November, 1970, on the removal of non-tariff barriers among members of the European Free Trade Association.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantProgress has been mainly in the field of technical barriers to trade. Agreements on the reciprocal recognition of national tests on pressure vessels and marine safety equipment came 167W into force on 1st January. Draft agreements on gas appliances and agricultural machinery are in preparation.
§ 45. Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in view of European Free Trade Association's policy of accepting new members, what talks have taken place or are proposed between the European Free Trade Association and the Yugoslavian Government with a view to Yugoslavia's membership.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantNone. Yugoslavia has not applied for membership of E.F.T.A.
§ 59. Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent proposals he has received from European Free Trade Association Governments for further economic integration; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John DaviesNone. The E.F.T.A. countries, which are all currently engaged in negotiations and discussions with the E.E.C., would clearly not wish to make any radical changes in E.F.T.A. at the present time.