§ 40. Mr. Neubertasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many pianos, country by country, were imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; what evidence he has received that such imports are supported by State subsidy or are otherwise dumped; and whether he proposes to take any action to safeguard the interests of the domestic piano manufacturing industry.
§ Mr. ParkinsonFollowing is the information:
United Kingdom Imports of New and Second-Hand Pianos (In Units) Country of Consignment 1978 1979 1980 EAST GERMANY 1,134 1,736 1,391 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1,214 2,100 1,271 JAPAN 924 700 1,036 NETHERLANDS 204 429 409 FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY 291 507 393 SOUTH KOREA 67 286 323 FINLAND 103 41 201 CZECHOSLOVAKIA 2 63 185 ISRAEL — — 146 POLAND 25 183 144 IRISH REPUBLIC 11 29 76 SWEDEN 9 5 72 SOVIET UNION 123 12 35 AUSTRIA 16 22 22 CHINA 22 12 12 FRANCE 4 143 10 BELGIUM-LUXEMBURG 12 2 2 HONG KONG 1 14 5 SWITZERLAND 6 11 5 SOUTH AFRICA 21 31 1 ITALY 23 20 6 HUNGARY 25 1 — OTHERS 5 10 10 TOTAL 4,242 6,357 5,755 The power to take action against subsidised or dumped imports lies with the European Commission. Officials of this Department's anti-dumping unit have assisted the British Piano Manufacturers Association in submitting an anti-dumping application to the European Commission on behalf of the Community piano industry alleging dumping of upright pianos from East Germany and Poland. This complaint is now being formally investigated by the Commission.