§ 26. Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Trade what further discussions he has had with the British cutlery industry about cheap imports;
I. UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY (£ million c.i.f.) 1976 1977 1978 Wheeled tractors* 139.7 190.4 205.6 Other agricultural machinery 99.1 111.4 121.8 * Including internal combustion engines and parts and accessories. Source: Business Monitor M.10—overseas trade analysed in terms of industries.
II. PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY OTHER THAN TRACTORS (£ million c.i.f.) 1977 1978 Machinery for soil preparation or cultivation: Ploughs 3.5 3.2 Scarifiers, cultivators, weeders, hoes and harrows 3.2 4.9 Seeders, planters and transplanters 2.6 2.5 Fertiliser distributors 2.8 31 Manure spreaders 1.4 1.5 Other—including lawn and sports ground rollers 2.5 1.2 Parts 6.5 8.0 Combine harvester threshers: Complete machines 25.9 29.4 Parts 4.1 5.6 Haymaking machinery—turners, side delivery rakes, tedders, etc. 5.3 4.6 Pick-up balers 6.9 5.8 Forage harvesters 5.7 6.5 Potato diggers and harvesters 7.1 3.5 Loaders for attachment to agricultural tractors 2.0 2.4 Agricultural trailers 1.2 0.5 Driers 1.2 1.9 Spraying appliances and machines 7.8 8.1 Machines for grading eggs, fruit and other produce 1.3 1.3 Parts of other agricultural machinery 13.1 11.6 Source: Business Monitor PQ.331—agricultural machinery, except tractors—with slight adjustment to achieve maximum comparability between the two years concerned, in view of changes in the statistical coverage in 1978.
32Wand when he expects to be in a position to report about the British position to the Commission of the European Economic Community which is assessing the impact of cheap imports on the European cutlery industry, and the need to restructure the industry.
§ Mr. MeacherA working party is currently considering the policy implications of the factual survey of the industry's performance 1972–76 which is already completed. I shall consider, in the light of its report, what action should be taken with the European Commission.