§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the nature of the problems being faced by British carpet manufacturers; and what representations he is making to the European Economic Community concerning the damage being caused to the 391W British carpet industry by the benefits of artificially low energy and feedstock prices enjoyed by United States of America manufacturers.
§ Mr. ParkinsonI know that the industry has been concerned about the increase in imports from the United States of man-made fibre tufted carpets. It was because of this increase that earlier in the year we applied to the European Commission for quota restrictions to be imposed. The Commission did not agree to the application, but it did give us an undertaking that if import trends continued to increase and damaged the domestic industry, safeguard action would be taken. I am continuing to monitor imports closely.