§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report the recommendations for action by Government made in the NEDO working sector report for the rubber processing industry together with details of the action taken by Government to implement those recommendations.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe recommendation of the NEDO Industrial Strategy Rubber Processing Working Party addressed directly to Government is that
Government should consider making changes to administrative policies which would place the onus on source countries to prove that dumping is not taking place rather than the present practice which requires UK manufacturers to prove that dumping is taking place.This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, with whose Department the burden of proof formally rests, though it must rely heavily on United Kingdom firms for information. The imposition of the burden of proof on to the supplier would require a change in international agreements and in United Kingdom legislation. The interests of industry remain a prime consideration of the Government and we believe that these can better be pursued within the provisions of existing legislation through the close co-operation which exists between the Department of Trade and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. These two Departments are now studying what information can be obtained and made available on home market prices of goods imported. As to the sector working party's other recommendations, the Government are assisting where appropriate with their implementation.