§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is in a position to report on the progress in the negotiations to extend the European Economic Community China textile agreement beyond 31 December; and whether he will ensure that (a) the established global ceilings for group I products of the multi-fibre arrangement will not be breached, (b) the quota growth rates will be no greater than those granted to the other dominant suppliers, (c) the inner limit for category 5 products —jumpers etc. —made from wool and fine animal hair will be preserved, (d) China, as the major producer in the world will continue to make available 99W supplies of cashmere fibre, (e) handloom products will be included in the quotas and (f) the legal provisions relating to fraud and the application of the basket extractor to deal with new products when they become a problem will be strictly applied.
§ Mr. ChannonThese negotiations will be renewed in the new year. The interests of the United Kingdom industry, including those specified by my hon. Friend, have been fully borne in mind by the Government during the formation of the Commission's negotiating stance.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will indicate the results of his investigation into possible fraudulent switching by Turkey of products from category 4 into category 83 (other knitted outwear) in order to evade import restrictions and into the continuing import of Turkish clothing products.
§ Mr. ChannonNo fraud has been detected. Under Commission regulations, no clawback of goods in transit is permissible. Imports licensed compared with quota levels were 1.9 million compared with .46 million pieces in category 4, and 24 as compared with 15 tonnes in category 83.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the recent return to a democratically elected Government in Turkey has enabled progress to be made about Turkey's unwillingness to enter into voluntary restraint arrangements for its exports of textiles and clothing; and whether it is his intention to seek an extension of the present restraints to include products in category 13 (knitted knickers etc.) where the level of imports in the period January to September 1983 inclusive have risen to 3.6 million pieces (£3.5 million) from 15,000 pieces (£4,000) in the corresponding period of 1982.
§ Mr. ChannonThere has not yet been time for such progress to be made. Our concern about the increased level of imports of category 13 has been expressed to the Commission, and we will carefully monitor imports in 1984 so that safeguard action can be initiated promptly should the need arise.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the following import information: imports by volume from Turkey of category 4 (T-shirts etc.) category 13 (knickers and pants) and category 83 (other knitted underwear) for the years 1981, 1982 and 1983 to date.
§ Mr. ChannonImports from Turkey were:
Unit 1981 1982 1983 (Jan-Oct) Category 4 Million Pieces 1.270 4.423 5.076 Category 13 Thousand Pieces 65 109 3,981 Category 83 Tonnes 1 71 373
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will urge the European Economic Community Commission to make full use of the safeguard measures relating to textiles contained in the agreement with Portugal, in particular, in respect of products in category 12 (socks), category 13 (knitted knickers etc.), category 25 (knitted nightwear), category 26 (knitted dresses), category 27 (knitted skirts), category 68 (babies' knitted underwear), category 71 (babies' knitted 100W outerwear), category 73 (tracksuits), where the level of Portuguese imports are causing further injury to United Kingdom manufacturers of these products.
§ Mr. ChannonI am fully aware of the difficulties that these imports create for the industry. The matter has been brought to the attention of the Commission.