HC Deb 08 February 1972 vol 830 cc343-4W
Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he is making to assist those firms which ordered textiles in those countries where the quota system was to be terminated from 1st January, 1972, and a tariff system substituted; and if he will give special consideration to bona fide contracts entered into prior to the date of the Government's announcement to retain quotas.

Mr. Ridley

It is now clear that cotton textile orders placed with certain restricted countries are in excess of their 1972 quotas. We are considering this problem as a matter of urgency, hearing in mind on the one hand the difficulties mentioned by my hon. Friend and on the other the need to avoid a disruptive rise in low-cost imports.