§ Mr. John Garrettasked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he proposes to take concerning representations made to him about the dumping of footwear imports into the United Kingdom by COMECON countries.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of Staate for Industry (1), in view of the increases in short-time working in the shoe industry, if he will now introduce import quotas to protect shoe workers' jobs;
(2) what steps he is taking to protect employment in the shoe industry.
§ Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement about the increase in the volume of imported cut-price footwear coming into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Secretary of State for Industry how soon he will be able to announce the response of Her Majesty's Government to the recent representations of the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieThe industry has made a detailed case for restraining imports of certain types of footwear from Eastern European countries. This case is being examined as a matter of urgency by my Department and the Department of Trade, and a decision will be announced as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement about the volume of imported footwear coming into the United Kingdom from Italy.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieIn 1973 the United Kingdom imported 12.2 million pairs of footwear of all types from Italy. This represented 15.3 per cent. by pairage of our total imports. In the first nine months of 1974 we imported 11.8 million pairs from Italy—an increase of 256 per cent. over the same period in 1973.
§ Mr. Adam Butlerasked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the 701W proportion of home consumption of footwear taken by imports in each of the last three years; and what progress has been made in his consideration of the question of shoe imports.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieThe proportion of the home footwear market taken by imports in each of the last three years, 1971–73, was 31.5 per cent, 32.9 per cent. and 31.8 per cent. respectively.
The industry has made a detailed case for restraining imports of certain types of footwear from Eastern European countries. This case is being examined as a matter of urgency by my Department and the Department of Trade and a decision will be announced as soon as possible.