§ 66. Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to be present at the GATT discussions relating to world agricultural problems; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkNegotiation of international trade agreements is the responsibility of the European
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Net Capital Expenditure1 in manufacturing industry2 by standard region of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1985 at 1979 prices £ million Region 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 North 613 428 284 256 279 356 403 Yorkshire and Humberside 625 484 360 330 354 413 435 East Midlands 478 394 316 322 323 380 435 East Anglia 210 173 133 161 161 174 193 South East 1,581 1,357 1,077 1,040 1,154 1,373 1,426 South West 377 319 272 268 308 369 384 West Midlands 705 612 423 421 425 574 571 North West 971 864 609 566 594 666 700 Community as a whole, represented by the Commission. My Department co-ordinates the United Kingdom input to that process. It will play a full part in preparing the Community position for the new round of GATT negotiations. These negotiations were launched in Uruguay in September 1986 at a meeting which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I both attended. The negotiations are to last four years. Among their most important tasks they will deal with the problems of international trade in agriculture, including the effects of all forms of direct and indirect subsidies. The negotiations are at an early stage, and no meetings in GATT at ministerial level are currently planned.
A copy of the Uruguay declaration launching the new round of GATT negotiations has been placed in the Library of the House.