§ 30. Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that existing anti-dumping legislation is protecting the textile, acrylic fibre, and garment making industries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act 1969 provides substantial protection against dumped or subsidised imports which cause or threaten material injury to a British industry. I have at present one anti-dumping application from the textile industry, which relates to acrylic yarn from the Far East. Anti-dumping action is, of course, only one form of protection, and the textile industry is helped by a wide range of restraints on imports from low-cost sources.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from British worsted spinners over the importation of acrylic yarns from 32W the Far East; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeakinsOn 12th December 1974 the British Worsted Spinners' Federation Ltd. presented an application for action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act 1969 against imports of acrylic yarn from the Far East. These are already the subject of an antidumping investigation by the EEC Commission as a result of an earlier application; consequently any further antidumping action will be taken by the Commission with which we are in touch. Simultaneously discussions are taking place in Brussels on the level of imports of acrylic and other synthetic yarns in order to decide whether restraints would be justifiable under the GATT Multifibre Agreement.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the value of imports of textiles, acrylic fibres, garments including shirts, blouses and knitwear, and footwear in 1974; what percentage this is of total consumption; and how this compares with the previous year.
§ Mr. DeakinsImports have been as follows:
£ million 1973 1974 Textiles (including acrllic fibres) 556 750 Acrylic fibres 11 15 Garments 323 389 Footwear 84 109 Imports as a percentage of United Kingdom consumption, in the latest periods available, are estimated as follows:
Percentages 1973 1973 First half 1974 First half Textiles 20 19 24 Garments 19 18 22 1973 1973 First 3 quarters 1974 First 3 quarters Footwear 20 20 23 Figures for acrylic fibres are not available.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Trade, of the total imports of textiles, acrylic fibres, and garments including shirts, blouses and knitwear, how many are from Eastern bloc and Warsaw Pact countries, and how much from developing countries.
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§ Mr. DeakinsFollowing is the information for January—November 1974:
£ thousand cif Eastern bloc and Warsaw Pact countries Developing countries Total All Sources Textiles, including acrylic fibres … … … … 13,021 130,271 697,698 Acrylic fibres … … … … … … 763 19 14,175 Garments … … … … … … … 10,262 181,701 363,976