§ 44. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is now able to indicate what changes will take place so far as duty payable on imported rainwear goods are concerned by Hong Kong firms if Great Britain joins the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe position is complicated as many tariff descriptions are involved. Adoption of the CCT and alignment of the United Kingdom and Community Generalised System of Preferences schemes will probably mean little or no change in the duty on the greater part of present Hong Kong exports in this field to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will be sending a representative to the Conference on Industry and Society in the Community organised by the Commission of the European Communities.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe Department will be sending a strong team of officials.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether, under the existing rules and regulations of the European Economic Community, Great Britain on entry will be able to operate the cash grant system in development areas without reference to the European Economic Community;
(2) whether, under the existing rules and regulations of the European Economic Community, Great Britain on entry will, without consultation with the Community, be able to continue the grant aid to the regions as set out in the White Paper, and to initiate special 95 per cent. grants for research and development projects carried out by private and nationalised industry; and whether such grants will be freely available to foreign firms from the countries of the enlarged Nine and payable on 5W the same basis as that paid to British firms.
§ Mr. ChatawayThere is nothing in E.E.C. arrangements which prevents member States from operating grant systems of regional aid, and indeed the practice of giving such grants is widespread in the Community. Although the detailed arrangements governing eligibility for grant must await legislation, it is not our intention to discriminate between applicant firms on the basis of nationality. As to grants for research and development, although the Question as posed by the hon. Member is hypothetical, I know of no reason why grant systems of that kind should cause difficulty in a Community context.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give, for the latest and most convenient stated monthly dates since June, 1970, the amounts of polyester yarn that have been imported from countries of the European Economic Community; what duties have been imposed; to what extent, on Great Britain's entry into the Community, imports from the enlarged nine countries will be increased; and whether Great Britain will be able to put on a restrictive quota and import duty without consultation with the Community.
§ Mr. John DaviesThe figures indicate that imports were higher, on average, in the second half of 1971 than in the first half. The full rate of duty is at present £0.0661 per kilogram or 13 per cent. whichever is the greater. Entry into the E.E.C. is expected to stimulate trade in general in both directions. We will not be able to impose quotas or vary duties without consultation with the Community.
The information is as follows:
6W
United Kingdom Imports from the E.E.C. of Yarn of continuous synthetic fibres other than polyamide, not put up for retail sale*. Metric Tons 1970 July … … 437 August … … 856 September … … 801 October … … 1,074 November … … 748 December … … 666
1971 January … … 817 February … … 770 March … … 939 April … … 664 May … … 571 June … … 777 July … … 881 August … … 912 September … … 647 October … … 658 November … … 1,001 December … … 657
United Kingdom imports from the E.E.C. of polyester yarns plus creped, bulked, textured or stretched yarns of all continuous synthetic fibres, except polyamide, not put up for retail sale*. 1972 January … … 580 February … … 590 *Most of the imports are, it is believed, of polyester yarns.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the rules and regulations, etc., which British manufacturers, industrialists, wholesalers, distributors and retailers will have to observe on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, and a brief summary of these giving an account of how they will affect the manufacture, prices, sale and distribution of such goods.
§ Mr. John DaviesI would refer the hon. Member to the pre-accession texts of Community secondary legislation published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. A guide to the scope and content of the non-agricultural texts was published in Trade and Industry on 27th January and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of it.