§ Mrs. PeacockTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how negotiations on the future of the multi-fibre arrangement and GATT round are progressing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe future of the multi-fibre arrangement pending the conclusion of the Uruguay round is to be addressed by a meeting of the textiles committee in Geneva scheduled for 16 May. The Community has recently begun to discuss the details of the mandate which will guide the Commission in that negotiation. All member states have agreed that a 17-month extension of the M FA should be sought. In the wider GATT negotiations, we hope that the good progress which was made towards a satisfactory textiles agreement at Brussels last December can be maintained now that the talks have resumed.