§ Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the progress of negotiations in the general agreement on tariffs and trade textiles committee.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThere was a meeting of the GATT textiles committee in Geneva on 5 June. Further meetings will be held in July in order to conclude negotiations before the end of that month. The European Commission is conducting the negotiations on behalf of the Community, in accordance with the mandate approved by the Council of Ministers on 11 March. It has also begun parallel bilateral discussions with its supplier countries. I will continue to keep in close touch with the industry and 567W other interested parties as the negotiations progress. I have every expectation that the outcome will conform to the Community's negotiating mandate.