§ 59. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that Imperial Chemical Industries and Courtaulds have been asked to join a cartel of Common Market firms to produce man-made fibres which is prevented under the British Restrictive Trade Practices legislation; and whether he can give an assurance that, on entry into the European Economic Community, such legislation in Great Britain will be permitted under the rules of the European Economic Community.
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§ Mr. John DaviesThe two companies have stated that no such approach has been made to them. The E.E.C. rules of competition apply only to practices which affect trade between member States and do not prevent member States from having their own national legislation on restrictive trade practices.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the negotiations for the adoption of the European Economic Community/Israel preferential trade agreement to take account of the enlargement of the Community are expected to take place.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantNegotiations for the adaptation of the E.E.C.-Israel Agreement are expected to take place during the first half of this year.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the European Economic Community have decided that Great Britain will have to grant generalised tariff preferences to textiles from developing countries on entry into the European Economic Community; to what extent in the alignment of the United Kingdom scheme, or that applied by the Community since 1st July, 1971, technical problems are presented; how it is proposed to resolve these; and whether the decision will be taken without discussing this with the British textile industry.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantA single Generalised Scheme of Preferences for the enlarged E.E.C. will not come into effect until 1st January, 1974. Nearer that time, discussions will be held both with the E.E.C. and our own industry on the details of the arrangements applying to textiles.
Mr. Edward Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to commence negotiations with the European Economic Community Commission regarding the areas of Great Britain to be designated as central areas for the purpose of regional development assistance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir J. EdenNo programme has been fixed, but it has been arranged with the Community that these matters will be settled in the first six months of our membership.