§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current level of imports of yarn from Spain and Portugal, respectively; and whether in the light of the present state of the textile industry, he will take steps to negotiate a lower limit on the import of yarn from these countries.
§ Mr. ShoreIn 1975 imports of yarn, not put up for retail sale, from Spain and Portugal were:
Spain (Tonnes) Portugal BN 55.05: Cotton yarn 2,834 7,744 BN 51.01: Man-made fibre yarn (continuous) 101 152 BN 56.05: Man-made fibre yarn (discontinuous or waste) 186 532 BN 53.06 and BN 53.07: Woollen and worsted yarn of sheeps or lambs' wood Nil Nil On 18th December 1975 restrictions were imposed on imports of cotton yarn from Spain and Portugal; quotas for the period ending 30th June 1976 were set at 1,413 tonnes and 2,540 tonnes respectively. There is no evidence to suggest that imports of other types of yarn from Spain and Portugal are growing at a rate which would justify restrictions.