HC Deb 26 February 1993 vol 219 cc763-4W
Mr. Cryer

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he has taken to implement the RETEX scheme of European Community assistance to regions heavily dependent on textile and clothing employment.

Mr. Sainsbury

[holding answer 25 February 1993]: The United Kingdom has sent to the European Commission two programmes under the RETEX initiative for the eligible textile areas of Great Britain and Northern Ireland respectively. The Commission has not yet replied.

A call for applications has already been made and once the Commission agrees the programme, projects will be considered by the RETEX programme monitoring committee for approval.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department has received from the apparel and textile industry on export promotion issues; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 25 February 1993]: Ministers and officials have many contacts with a wide range of industry bodies which give rise to discussions on export promotion issues and we always take careful note of their views.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures are being taken by the European Community to combat fraudulent evasion of quotas on textiles; what estimates are available on the extent of fraudulent trade; what similar information is available on measures taken in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 25 February 1993]: The European Community has agreed, for the first time, a budget of 500,000 ecus to deal with suspected fraudulent trade in textiles and clothing. It will fund the activities of EC anti-fraud squads which will pursue cases on the basis of information supplied by member states to the Commission. In addition, the EC has agreed with certain supplier countries intensified monitoring of trade in goods where fraud is suspected. There are no official estimates of fraudulent textiles trade involving the European Community. As regards the USA, my Department has recently passed to Her Majesty's Customs and the European Commission an indication from the United States customs service that it would welcome co-operation in tackling fraudulent textiles trade.