§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will report on the outcome of the European Council of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on 4 June.
§ Mr. TebbitThe Council, which I attended, assented to production quotas under article 58 of the ECSC Treaty in respect of hot rolled coil and derivatives for 12 months from 1 July to give effect to the concensus reached by the great majority of Community producers. It noted with satisfaction that the producers had reached voluntary agreements covering plates and heavy sections and it invited the Commission to explore further the possibility of voluntary agreements covering light long-rolled products. There was an exchange of views on a timetable for the phasing out of state aids to the steel industry contrary to the Treaty. This will be discussed again by the Council at a meeting currently scheduled for 24 June when it will also consider the position on light long-rolled products, Commission proposals on the extension to distributors of the ECSC rules concerning transparency and non-discrimination in pricing, and measures to deal with the social consequences of steel restructuring.