§ Mr. Smallasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what firms or companies in Great Britain have complained to him of unfair competition caused by the operation of Supplementary Financing and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, within the current framework of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; and if he will name such firms or companies.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantAs the grounds for taking safeguard action under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences are that imports under it are causing or threatening serious injury to a British industry, complaints need to be put forward on behalf of an industry as a whole. This will normally be done by a trade association. Complaints have been made, or general apprehensions expressed, by the British Non-Ferrous372W Metals Federation, the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation and the British Leather Federation. "Unfair competition" by way of dumped or subsidised imports falls to be dealt with under the provisions of the Customs Duties (Dumping & Subsidies) Act, 1969. The proposal that aid should be provided for supplementary financing is unlikely to be put into effect in the foreseeable future.