§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if imports of trousers, blouses and women's nightwear from Malta in the current year have exceeded the Multi-Fibre Arrangement trigger level; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MeacherImports of trousers, blouses and women's nightwear from
Thousand pieces Product 1976 imports 1977 imports 1978 January-May imports 1978 trigger threshold (United Kingdom regional) Trousers (Category 6) … 101 282 365 65 Blouses (Category 7) … 252 304 180 47 Women's Nightwear (Category 30A) … 416 770 283 40
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what representations he has received from the
566Wtrade between the United Kingdom and the EEC in the following product fields, for each of the last 10 years: (a) motor cars, (b) commercial vehicles, (c) tractors, (d) telecommunications equipment, (e) machine tools, and (f) textiles and manmade fibres.
§ Mr. MeacherFollowing is the information for trade with the EEC as currently constituted:
Malta in the first five months of 1978 have exceeded the relevant 1978 United Kingdom regional trigger levels, as they did in 1976 and 1977. The following table sets out the relevant figures. We asked the EEC Commission several weeks ago to open discussions with Malta with a view to bringing her into the EEC's general restraint arrangements for Mediterranean suppliers of low-cost textiles and clothing, and this it has now agreed to do.
British Clothing Industry's Council for Europe urging effective surveillance and prompt action by national Governments 567W and the EEC Commission where ceilings and trigger points are reached; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations he has received from the textile and clothing industry about imports from Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and Malta; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MeacherI shall write to the hon. Member and place copies of the letter in the Library for the information of hon. Members.