§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the future of the textile import surveillance licensing scheme; and whether he thinks the registration of import intentions serves any useful purpose.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to the reply, 15 November 1979, c. 768]: I am reviewing a number of functions of the Department with a view to reducing Civil Service work and will announce the outcome as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give details of the volume, quantity or tonnage of imports of all major commodities of textiles and textile based products, such 845W as carpets, from the United States of America for 1977 and 1978; and the corresponding figures for 1979 to the latest convenient month.
Tonnes SITC Rev 2 January-August 1979* 1978 1977 Textile yarn (including wool tops and tops of animal hair) Mainly 15,468 14,482 14,622 651 Cotton fabrics, woven (not including narrow or special fabrics) 652 6,436 7,308 6,345 Fabric woven of man-made fibres (not including narrow or special fabrics) 653 5,893 6,912 6,576 Textile fabrics, woven, other than of cotton or man-made fibres 654 619 802 647 Knitted or crocheted fabrics (including tubular knit fabrics, pile fabrics and open-work fabrics) 655 1,158 835 710 Tulle, lace, embroidery, ribbons, trimmings and other small wares 656 153 195 99 Special textile fabrics and related products 657 2,527 2,248 2,000 Made-up articles, wholly or chiefly of textile materials, not elsewhere specified 658 2,185 2,098 1,699 Floor coverings, etc. 659 6,123 2,758 391 Synthetic fibres suitable for spinning 266 3,856 2,707 3,733 Other man-made fibres suitable for spinning and waste of man-made fibres 267 1,525 1,066 996 Men's and boy's outer garments of textile fabrics (other than knitted or crocheted goods) 842 1,529 978 983 Women's, girls' and infants' outer garments of textile fabrics (other than knitted or crocheted) 843 125 79 43 Under garments of textile fabrics (other than knitted or crocheted) 844 74 49 37 Outer garments and other articles, knitted or crocheted, not elastic or rubberised 845 377 342 232 Under garments, knitted or crocheted, of wool or fine animal hair, not elastic or rubberised 846 124 146 148 Clothing accessories of textile fabrics (other than knitted or crocheted goods) 847 54 61 34 Total 48,226 43,066 39,295 * Import figures in this period may be slightly understated owing to disruptions in the flow of information on which they are based. Note: The information above is given on the current basis of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (SITC Rev 2).
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what action his Department intends to take against Korea to limit its textile imports, in view of the fact that Korea imposes a 60 per cent. duty on imported woven cotton cloth and completely prohibits imports of consumer goods such as shirts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979, c. 408]: Imports of clothing and textiles from Korea are already limited by a bilateral agreement with the EEC under the multi-fibre arrangement.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations
846W
§ Mr. Eyre[pursuant to the reply, 12 November 1979, c. 408]:
Following is the information:
his Department intends to make to Brazil concerning the impact on United Kingdom exports of the duties of 205 per cent. on both woven cotton cloth and shirts imposed in Brazil; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979, c. 408]: The duties mentioned are an example of Brazil's traditionally high levels of protection which have long been a matter of concern to Her Majesty's Government and the subject of representations from time to time. The need for liberalisation by Brazil as a basis for development of two way trade with the Community will be an important feature of the continuing dialogue between Brazil and the EEC 847W under a co-operation agreement now being negotiated.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he intends to take together with other EEC countries to limit the quantity of cotton yarn from Bolivia entering the Community; and whether the global ceilings will not be exceeded if any quota is granted to Boliva for cotton yarn.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979, c. 408]: The EEC has agreed to open negotiations with Boliva with a view to concluding a bilateral restraint agreement under the Multifibre Arrangement. I would expect such an agreement to incorporate a quota on cotton yarn. Since the United Kingdom global ceiling for cotton yarn is fully allocated between existing suppliers, any quota on Bolivia will exceed the ceiling and the Government are therefore seeking to minimise this excess.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade why Turkey was allowed to import in to the United Kingdom 3,917 tonnes of cotton yarn in the period January to July 1979 when the agreed annual ceiling is 2,940 tonnes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979, c. 408]: There is no agreed ceiling on United Kingdom imports of Turkish cotton yarn. In February this year, Turkey was notified that the Community would not take safeguard action so long as Turkish exports to the United Kingdom did not exceed 2,940 tonnes. The EEC Commission subsequently sought, without success, to negotiate a voluntary restraint arrangement. Imports of cotton yarn from Turkey have now substantially exceeded the notified level. At the United Kingdom's request, the Commission has accordingly invoked the safeguard clause in the EEC/Turkey Association agreement to suspend further imports of Turkish cotton yarn from midnight on 12 November. A quota of 428 tonnes has been imposed for the remainder of 1979.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the impact on United Kingdom exports of the Australian 848W Government's policy of increasing substantially the protection against imports into Australia, hitherto an important market for many United Kingdom textile producers and the effect this policy may have on our United Kingdom textile industry.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979, c. 409]: Our contractual right to these preferences ended on our accession to the European Communities, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was able to express our concern personally at the highest possible level during his recent visit to Canberra. In particular he drew attention to the short notice afforded to traders before the changes were put into effect. These will not now be implemented until 1 January next.