HC Deb 20 March 1980 vol 981 cc274-5W
Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what have been the figures for the import and export of glass containers and flat glass at the latest date for which the above information is available, respectively, for the last three years.

Mr. Parkinson

[pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1980, c. 84]: The information for the calendar years 1977–1979 is as follows:

tariff on all these goods of 34 per cent. except for certain thong sandals where the rate is 46.5 per cent.

The import into Australia of men's leather footwear from the United Kingdom has recently been affected by the removal of the residual Commonwealth preference of 15 per centage points, to which the United Kingdom ceased to be entitled as a consequence of our entry into the European Community, and the withdrawal for all footwear of the 12½ per cent. additional duty charge which was introduced in 1978.

Both these changes were effective from 1 January 1980.

Representations have been made to the Australian authorities from time to time both by Her Majesty's Government and by the European Community on various aspects of the import restrictions on footwear. Following representations by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade last September, a proposal to abolish the United Kingdom preferential tariff on footwear was postponed until January this year.

Mr. Whitlock

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what restrictions are imposed on the import of British leather footwear into Japan; what recent changes there have been in these restrictions; and what effect United Kingdom Government or European Economic Community representations have had on these restrictions.

Mr. Parkinson

Quota restrictions imposed by Japan on imports of leather goods, including leather footwear, apply to all countries. Details of the quota system and its administration are not published. Removal or substantial easing of the restrictions has been sought without success as part of the Tokyo round of the multilateral trade negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, in representations by the European Mission on behalf of member States and in bilateral representations to Japan by the United Kingdom. Representations will continue to be made.