§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect his Department estimates a general agreement on tariffs and trade settlement will have upon clothing and textile employment in the respective regions of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyI refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 1 July 1991 to a question from the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), at column 20. Professor Silberston did not attempt a regional breakdown of the effect on employment of ending the multi-fibre arrangement, although he did give detailed consideration to those factors, such as regional levels of employment opportunities, which appeared to be relevant. A successful outcome to the GATT Uruguay round would include strengthened rules and disciplines and increased multilateral market access: this, taken together with the 10-year transitional period for phasing out textile restraints, should mitigate the impact on employment in the industry.