§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Minister for Trade what has been the annual tonnage of asbestos—white—imports into the United Kingdom since 1970 by country of origin; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe available information for crude asbestos imports is given in the following table. White asbestos is not separately identified in the overseas trade statistics but it is believed that the great bulk of imports has been in this form. The level of imports was lower in 1980 than at any time in the previous 10 years.
comprehensive study of the whole of the law and practice relating to insolvency, its procedures and its adminstration. This has included receivership, bankruptcy, company liquidation and many related subsidiary matters. The substantial size of the report is an indication of the extent and complexity of the subject matter and of the committee's care and diligence.
The Government will give this comprehensive report the fullest and most careful consideration. It raises issues 109W of wide commercial and financial importance; officials will be holding full consultations with the representative bodies concerned, before any final decisions are taken.
I am very glad to have this opportunity to express our appreciation of all the effort which Sir Kenneth Cork and his colleagues have put into this work; it has been no light thing to undertake such a task, and we are in their debt.