§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) to what extent the Government of the Irish Republic is seeking the exclusion of certain categories of imports from the United Kingdom from the tariff cuts originally agreed under the Anglo-Eire Free Trade Agreement; and if he will list the products concerned;
(2) whether he will make a statement on the talks on the Anglo-Eire Free Trade Agreement between officials of the United Kingdom Government and officials of the Government of the Irish Republic on 25th May in Dublin.
§ Mr. NobleThese talks and the items covered by them are confidential between the two Governments until conclusions have been reached and can be announced.
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§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent he expects the Anglo-Eire Free Trade Agreement to be affected by the transitional arrangements for United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. NobleThe operation of the A.I.F.T.A. during the transitional period will have to be discussed, but it is common ground between the present Community and the candidates that its enlargement should not be the occasion for abandoning progress towards free trade already agreed upon between them.