§ 6. Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the present state of negotiations on the multi-fibre arrangement.
§ 35. Dr. John Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress has been made in agreeing global ceilings on the import of textiles and clothing products to cover not only multi-fibre arrangement supplies but also supplies from preferential and State-trading countries.
§ Mr. Peter ReesAs my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal reported to the House on 27 January, consideration of the protocol of extension to the MFA which was adopted in Geneva on 22 December 1981 was on the agenda for the Foreign Affairs Council on 26 January. However, it became apparent that further work would be required to produce complete and acceptable global ceilings for the most sensitive clothing and textile products. It was therefore agreed that substantive discussion of this subject should be postponed until a further Council to be held on 11 February.
§ 29. Mr. Woolmerasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations regarding the protocol of extension of the multi-fibre arrangement he has received since 22 December 1981.
§ Mr. Peter ReesBoth my right hon. Friend and I have received comments from a number of organisations representing the industry, the unions and retailers. My right hon. Friend and I saw representatives of the major trade associations and trade unions on 21 January to discuss the protocol of extension adopted in the GATT on 22 December. In addition I met textile manufacturers and representatives of local authorities and trade unions during a visit to north-east Lancashire on 29 January and shall be seeing representatives of the wool industry in Yorkshire tomorrow.
§ 30. Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received on the multifibre arrangement protocol from the British Clothing Industry Association.
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§ Mr. Peter ReesI have received a number of communications from the British Clothing Industry Association since 22 December and had a meeting with representatives of the association on 21 January to discuss the protocol of extension to the MFA.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade, consequent to the new multi-fibre arrangement protocol agreed in Geneva in December 1981, if he will make a statement concering the negotiation of new bilateral agreements with exporting countries.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe bilateral agreements to be negotiated by the Community with supplying countries under the general framework of the multi-fibre arrangement will run from 1 January 1983. Negotiations on the new agreements cannot begin until the Community has formally accepted the new protocol of extension to the arrangement.