HC Deb 03 April 1980 vol 982 cc357-8W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why his Department permitted the EEC Commission at the request of third country suppliers to agree an increase in United Kingdom quotas under the multi-fibre arrangement in the following cases (a) Romania, Category 8, original quota 665,000, revised quota 765,000, (b) Hungary, Category 7, original quota 42,000, revised quota 62,000, (c) Hungary, Category 8, original quota 153,000, revised quota 183,000, (d) German Democratic Republic, Category 17, original quota 35,000, revised quota 45,000, (e) Hong Kong, Category 21, original quota 2,945,000, revised quota 4,696,000, (f) South Korea, Category 4, original quota 1,705,000, revised quota 1,735,000 (g) Philippines, Category 4, original quota 1,608,000, revised quota 1,758,000, (h) Thailand, Category 4, original quota 2,397,000, revised quota 2,557,000; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nott

[pursuant to the reply, 13 March 1980, c. 22–3]: In September 1979, the Community agreed to a request by supplier countries that quantitative limits be reallocated among member States, on the basis that any increase in certain suppliers' quotas would be offset by reductions in the quotas of other suppliers. The changes resulting are published in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2143/79 of 18 September 1979. The increases in access listed under items (a), (b), (c), (f), (g) and (h) were offset by greater reductions in the Indian allocations. Within Group 1 (Categories 1 to 8) the United Kingdom was therefore a net beneficiary in the sense that potential access was reduced rather than increased. These arrangements applied in 1979 only. Regarding (d) the correct published 1979 quota for the German Democratic Republic, Category 17, was 27,500 pieces, representing an increase of 5,000 pieces. This increase followed a reassessment of the statistical basis on which quotas on State trading countries are imposed and will not therefore be repeated. The revised quota for (e) Hong Kong, Category 21, was 4,649,000 pieces, and was the result of a change in classification involving transfers from categories 15B and 17 to category 21.