HC Deb 16 December 1977 vol 941 cc490-1W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the quotas set for Hong Kong exports of textiles to each of the member States of the EEC has been utilised in each of the last three years.

Mr. Meacher

I have been asked to reply:

Quota-usage figures for other EEC member States are not available. Following is the information for the United Kingdom:

Quota Usage (Percentage)
Product Category Product Description 1975 1976 1977 January to October
17 Waterproof garments and raincoats other than raincoats of the overcoat type … … … … … 38 64 55
18 Work clothing … … … … … … 92 49 52
19 Articles of apparel used for sports … … … 44 112 66
20 Other men's and boy's undergarments … … … 13 58 18
21 Other undergarments … … … … … 22 19 15

It is possible for quota usage for particular categories to exceed 100 per cent. because the EEC-Hong Kong agreement contains provisions allowing Hong Kong to exceed particular quota limits in a particular year by certain fixed percentages through a combination of anticipation of the following year's quota carryover of unused quotas from the preceding year and transfer between quotas.