§ Mr. Crowtherasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes have taken place in the last six months in European Community steel production quotas, listed by product and by country.
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§ Mr. ButcherThe quotas are allocated to steel producers by the European Commission in accordance with decision 2177/83/ECSC and its predecessors. No information is available concerning the breakdown by member states. The quota allocation to each steel producer is commercially confidential. The Commission does, however, publish each quarter overall quota levels, which have been as follows for each product:
'000 tonnes Quota category 1983 1983 1983 Q2 Q3 Q4 1a. Hot rolled plate 3,675 3,881 3,963 1b. Uncoated sheet 3,315 3,366 3,320 1c. Galvanished sheet 885 842 849 1d. Other coated sheet 690 657 718 II. Reversing mill plate N/A 1,118 1,116 III. Heavy sections N/A 1,175 1,230 IV. Wire rod 2,330 2,220 2,323 V. Reinforcing bar 1,710 1,770 1,822 VI. Merchant bar 2,160 2,196 2,103
§ Mr. Crowtherasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from (a) the British Steel Corporation and (b) private sector steel companies concerning difficulties created by the operation of European Community production quotas.
§ Mr. ButcherMy Department is in regular contact with the British Steel Corporation and the British Independent Steel Producers Association on the Community's steel production quota system, which they have generally supported. Contacts also take place from time to time with individual private sector steel companies. These discussions provide the opportunity for dealing with any specific problems that arise in connection with the operation of the quota system.