§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the volume of imports of tool steels, high speed steels and stainless steel bars in each of the last five years in total and from each of the following countries: West Germany. Austria, Sweden, Spain and Japan.
Mr. MeecherFigures for tool steels and high speed steels are not available, as imports are not recorded in sufficient detail in the overseas trade statistics to distinguish them separately. Imports of stainless and heat resisting steel bars were as follows:
metallurgical composition, have been imposed, with effect from 22nd April 1977, on certain such products.
The United Kingdom has no unilateral quotas on imports of any steel. We do, however, benefit from a series of "indicative ceilings" on imports into the EEC of certain steels from Austria and Sweden.
The Department and the Spanish Government recently agreed new minimum price levels from Spain, updating the previous agreement of February 1976.
Discussions between the EEC Commission and the Japanese Government last autumn led to forecasts by the Japanese Government of a reduced level of exports of certain special steels in 1977.