HC Deb 04 December 1979 vol 975 cc174-5W
Mr. Robert Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is now prepared to publish regulations to compel imported manufactured clothing clearly to identify country of origin.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he plans to take to enable consumers to identify the country of origin of knitwear goods, particularly in mail order catalogues, similar to those produced by the Scottish knitwear industry.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) on 3 December.

Mr. Robert Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report, by volume and value, the quantity of imported manufactured clothing reaching the United Kingdom via the method known as outward processing.

Mr. Parkinson

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Robert Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions he is having with the EEC Commission on tightening the rules whereby imported manufactured clothing produced under the method of outward processing is allowed free circulation within the EEC.

Mr. Parkinson

Under the terms of article 115 of the Treaty of Rome no restriction can be placed on the free circulation within the Community of goods, including outward processed goods, not subject to formal quotas. Where outward processed goods are subject to formal quota, member States can apply to the Commission to halt free circulation where this would cause damage to the member State's industry. We have had discussions with the Commission about the criteria it uses in considering such applications.