§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what arrangements his Department intends to take either directly or through the EEC with the Mediterranean associates which will effectively contain their disruptive potential in the sphere of textile imports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Meacher:The European Commission has started negotiations aimed at reaching restraint arrangements for 1979 with the Mediterranean textile suppliers. It is expected that the existing arrangements with Morocco and Tunisia will be extended, whilst in the case of Spain, Portugal and Greece the aim will be to renew the improved arrangements which have been negotiated during 1978. Malta and Turkey have so far proved unwilling to enter into negotiations, and it may be necessary again to consider safeguard action if their exports to the Community in 1979 reach disruptive levels. My Department is keeping closely in touch with these negotiations and I expect the Council of Ministers to consider their outcome when it meets on 19th December.