§ Mr. Hindasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the adoption of tariff measures for the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza strip.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI wish to explain the agreement by the Government to the adoption of a Council regulation on the tariff arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the "occupied territories" before the Select Committee has an opportunity for scrutiny and the reason for the delay in reporting the matter for scrutiny.
The regulation reflects the Community's concern to take practical steps to improve economic conditions for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza strip. It is also intended to bring the preferential trade arrangements for the occupied territories into line with the terms given to neighbouring countries. The United Kingdom's direct interest in the products covered is negligible.
Table 1
264W
Changes already decided Statistical series/inquiry Nature of change Credit press notice The inclusion of figures from banks for the amounts outstanding on personal accounts in the United Kingdom, excluding bridging and house purchase finance and Access and Visa cards, where the amount of the individual loan is £15,000 or less, divided between fixed sum and running account credit. Overseas Trade Statistics The adoption by the United Kingdom of the third revision of the Standard International Trade Classification from the beginning of 1988. Company Accounts Analysis The introduction of a quarterly Business Monitor to give more up-to-date results. Companies' rates of return Publication of quarterly estimates. Computer Services Inquiry Revised questionnaire and a substantially altered and enlarged panel of respondents. Engineering Sales and Orders Annual publication to be introduced in a new Business Monitor PA 1008. Because of the need for confidentiality in consideration of the tariff treatment to be given to particular products, the Commission's proposal was given a confidential classification, as were the subsequent Council negotiations. I hope, therefore, that the House will understand why it was not possible for the full scrutiny processes to be followed.
The regulation was adopted at the Foreign Affairs Council on 27 October 1986 and entered into force on 16 November. I regret that because of an oversight the scrutiny committees were not informed of the adoption of the regulation until 25 November. I can assure the House that no discourtesy was intended.