HC Deb 15 February 1980 vol 978 cc859-60W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the Government's declared commitment to an effective multi-fibre arrangement, he will discuss with the other European Economic Community Trade Ministers the issue of licences relating to the volume of third country exports to the United Kingdom in order to permit free circulation above quotas in order to achieve an effective control and monitoring of all textile exports to the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom in particular.

Mr. Parkinson

Commission decision 80/47/EEC, adopted on 20 December 1979, allows the Commission to authorise a member State to continue to make imports of third country goods already in free circulation within the Community subject to the issue of an import licence where there is a danger that such imports could give rise to difficulties in the member State concerned. There are no plans for these new arrangements to be discussed by the EEC Council of Ministers.