§ Ms. Janet AndersonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he has now received from the European Commission an analysis of the economic case for the proposal to impose quantitative restrictions on imports of Chinese footwear;
(2) what representations he has received concerning the European Commission's proposal to impose quantitative 236W restrictions on imports of Chinese footwear; and what has been the balance of those representations between support for and opposition to the proposal.
§ Mr. NeedhamI have received many representations about the Commission's proposal divided broadly between footwear manufacturers who, with the exception of the largest United Kingdom producer, supported it and consumer, retail and importing interests who opposed it. I have recently written to all hon. Members who have expressed an interest in the matter to explain why, in the light of these representations and of the Commission's further economic analysis presented in late July, the Government have decided to oppose the proposal. A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library of the House.