§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that declining match consumption in the United Kingdom has already caused a number of match factories to be closed in the past few years; and why, in these circumstances, he has recently permitted an increased quota for the importation of matches from Czechoslovakia and Poland.
§ Mr. NobleMatches can be imported without restriction from all sources other 19W than the eastern area. Imports of matches from Czechoslovakia and Poland in 1970 accounted for less than 10 per cent. of total imports. The small increases in quotas granted to Poland and Czechoslovakia were in accordance with our policy of relaxing discriminatory restrictions wherever this is possible and bearing in mind our export prospects to the countries concerned.