§ Mr. Foxasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing United Kingdom imports of cotton velvet under tariff heading 58.04 6900 from Turkey for each of the last four years.
§ Mr. ChannonThe information is as follows:
1980 1982 *1983 Value (£ thousands) c.i.f. 13 40 1,159 Weight (Metric Tonnes) 3 11 220 Volume (thousand Sq.M) 6 24 703 * provisional Source: Data corresponding to tariff heading 5804–6900 (ex. SITC/R2 Item 652.23) in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.
Note: There were no imports from Turkey in 1981.
§ Mr. Foxasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has held with the United Kingdom textile industry and with the European Commission on the threat posed to United Kingdom producers of cotton velvet by the growth of imports from Turkey.
§ Mr. TrippierMy officials have had discussions both with the relevant industry trade associations and with the individual companies affected. They have also had a comprehensive discussion of the problem with the 545W European Commission and the other member states, who will now be fully aware of the background if the United Kingdom needs to seek urgent action. Special monitoring of imports of this product has also been set up which will enable my officials to identify and deal with any problem which may arise rather more quickly than would normally be the case.