§ 27. Mr. Edward Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he is taking following the action of the Government of Malta in limiting United Kingdom textile imports to the level of 25 per cent. by value of the level in 1978 and in the withholding of import allowances from any importer who did not buy from the United Kingdom in 1978.
§ Mr. TebbitRestraint of certain textile imports into Malta from the United Kingdom has in our view been in breach of the association agreement between Malta and the EEC and we are keeping the Commission fully informed of the position.
Despite assurances received from the Maltese Government that there is no discrimination against imports of British textiles, my Department has continued to receive complaints that British exporters are experiencing difficulties. We have asked the Maltese authorities urgently to investigate the complaints in the light of their earlier assurances.