§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will put a time limit for a definitive reply to his request for voluntary shoe-exporting restrictions from the COMECON countries; and if, in view of the urgent situation in the footwear industry, he will make that time limit not more than 14 days;
(2) what voluntary shoe import restrictions he is seeking from the COMECON countries;
(3) if he will indicate to COMECON shoe-exporting countries that unless voluntary exporting restrictions can be agreed he will have no alternative but to introduce import quotas.
§ Mr. DeakinsAs the House is aware, my Department and the Department of Industry are dealing as a matter of urgency with the case made to us by the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation. I believe that a solution can be found, but it would not be helpful to the industry's cause for me to elaborate further at this stage.