Mr. Ronald W. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) in the light of the difficulties being created for United Kingdom producers of knockdown furniture by the import of large quantities of cheap knock-down furniture from East Germany, if he will examine the long-term effects such unfair competition will have on the United Kingdom furniture manufacturing industry;
(2) if he will investigate the price structure of imported knock-down furniture from East Germany to establish the reasons for giving most-favoured nation status to such imports;
(3) if he will initiate discussions with those East European countries exporting knock-down furniture to the United Kingdom with a view to obtaining agreement on the element of subsidy being given to such exports.
§ Mr. ParkinsonMy right hon. Friend and I have received a number of complaints against imports of furniture from Eastern Europe, particularly the German Democratic Republic, and the concern felt by the industry is thus well known to us. With the advice and assistance of my Department, the British Furniture Manufacturers Federated Associations are seeking to establish the basis for a com-94W plaint to the European Commission that these imports are being dumped and a request that the Community should take appropriate anti-dumping action. Any such action would be accompanied by an investigation by the Commission into the pricing of the imports concerned and the damage being caused to the industry within the Community.