§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, on entry into the Common Market on signing the Rome Treaty, Great Britain will, in respect of public enterprises to which it grants special or exclusive rights, be able to enact or maintain in force measures in support of such favourable discrimination under the Treaty rules, particularly those rules provided for in Article 7 and in Articles 85 to 94, inclusive ; and whether he will make a statement.
20W
§ Mr. NobleOn entry into the E.E.C. the United Kingdom would be governed by the treaty rules, including those designed to ensure fair competition. The position of public enterprises is recognised in Article 90 of the Treaty of Rome, and I do not foresee any difficulties.
§ Mr. Adam Butlerasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the Common External Tariff of the European Economic Community on timber, particularly that intended for house building, and whether this will apply to United Kingdom imports in the event of entry into the Community.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantTaking timber as wood in the forms described in C.E.T. headings 44.03 to 44.05 inclusive, all the duty rates applicable as from 1st January, 1971, are free with the following two exceptions:
Per cent 44.03B.I—Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of its bark or merely roughed down : posts of coniferous wood, of a length of from 6 metres inclusive to 18 metres inclusive and a circumference at the butt end of from 45 cm exclusive to 90 cm inclusive, injected or otherwise impregnated to any degree 3.6 44.05B.II—Wood sawn lengthwise, sliced or peeled, but not further prepared, of a thickness exceeding 5 mm : coniferous wood, of a length of 125 cm or less and of a thickness of less than 12.5 mm 10.6 The duty-free positions within headings 44.03 to 44.05 include the forms of timber most widely used in house building. The application of the C.E.T. to United Kingdom imports is explained in paragraph 79 of Cmnd 4715.