§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is considering any action by Her Majesty's Government in the event of a breakdown in negotiations on bilateral agreements under the multi-fibre arrangement.
§ Mr. BiffenNegotiations on new bilateral agreements to run from 1 January 1983 cannot begin until the Council of Ministers has agreed that the Community should participate in the extended multi-fibre arrangement. It would be premature to anticipate the failure of negotiations which have not yet begun.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what would be the effect on the British textile and clothing industry of withdrawal from the multi-fibre arrangement by the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. BiffenThis would depend upon what alternative measures the Community and the member States adopted to control imports.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in the light of the Minister for Trade's speech in Burnley on 29 January, he is satisfied that acceptably tight bilateral agreements can be made under the multi-fibre arrangement; and if any progress has so far been made on these agreements.
§ Mr. BiffenThe Government believe that all the Community's negotiating objectives are compatible with the multi-fibre arrangement as extended by the new protocol. Formal discussions with supplying countries have not yet begun.
§ Mr. Woolmerasked the Secretary of State for Trade on what date he expects the European Economic Community Council of Ministers to consider the multi-fibre arrangement protocol; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BiffenThe Council to consider the MFA protocol of extension which was scheduled for 11 February was postponed and will now take place on 25 February.