§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade, what is the position of negotiations to achieve an international agreement for (a) tin, (b) cocoa and (c) export quotas for tea.
§ Mr. Parkinson(a) Tin—The fifth International Agreement expires in 1982. Negotiations for a new agreement commenced in April 1980 and the fourth session of the negotiating conference is being held this month.
(b) Cocoa—Negotiations on text of the third International Cocoa Agreement were concluded in November 1980. The United Kingdom has signed the agreement and notified its intention to apply it provisionally. As at 31 May 1981 the agreement had not received the level of support from exporting and importing countries which would have caused the agreement to come into force automatically. The Secretary General of the United Nations will now call a conference of those countries who support the agreement to discuss the position.
(c) Tea—A fourth preparatory meeting is scheduled for early 1982. It has not previously been possible for the producing countries to agree on the allocation of quotas amongst themselves, but they are holding a further meeting in the autumn.