§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the position he will present at the European Economic 340W Community Council of Ministers on 21 July regarding Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the new multi-fibre arrangement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe purpose of any discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 July will be for the Commission to report progress on the MFA negotiations so far. The Commission is negotiating, in close consultation with Member States, on the basis of a mandate agreed by Ministers in March, which takes full account of United Kingdom interests.
§ Sir John Farrasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) in view of the increase in clothing imports, the decrease in exports of clothing and textiles and the increase in the balance of trade deficit for the first quarter of 1986, he will, in the multi-fibre arrangement negotiations now taking place, urge the introduction of a more stringent protection mechanism on imports;
(2) if he will take the increase in imports of textiles and clothing from countries covered by the multi-fibre arrangement in the first quarter of 1986 into account when negotiating the next multi-fibre arrangement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe mandate agreed by the Foreign Affairs Council in March provides the basis on which a renewal could be negotiated which would continue to provide effective protection for the most sensitive sectors of our industry. I am keeping in close touch with the industry as the negotiations progress. The most recent trade figures for particular sectors are indeed being taken into account in the negotiations on bilateral agreements. The mandate provides for the retention of a safeguard mechanism against growth in unrestricted imports.