§ 28. Mr. Whitlockasked the Minister for Trade if he has completed his analysis of the consequences for the United Kingdom clothing and textile industries of the bilateral agreements under the multi-fibre arrangement; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ReesAs I told the House on 14 December 1982, all the bilateral agreements negotiated under the multi-fibre arrangement were concluded within the mandate established by the Council of Ministers at a series of meetings in 1980 and 1981. We shall, of course, monitor the impact of imports under these bilateral agreements on the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry.
§ 29. Mr. Strawasked the Minister for Trade what will be the percentage change in imports of textile and clothing products covered by the multi-fibre arrangement between the actual level of imports in 1981 and the maximum level of imports possible under the quotas for 1986 agreed under the multi-fibre arrangement.
§ Mr. Peter ReesIt would not be meaningful to compare quota entitlements for Group I products in 1986 with actual imports in 1981. The 1983 quotas have been established on the basis of the 1982 quotas with certain adjustments including cutbacks of 7 to 8 per cent. in the clothing quotas of the dominant suppliers. Thereafter the quotas will grow on average by less than 1 per cent. per year. Utilisation of the quotas in 1986 will depend upon a range of factors which cannot at this date be predicted.