§ Mr. EvennettTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in agreeing harmonised European Community rules on imports of silk textiles from state trading countries under autonomous arrangements; what interim measures he has taken in the meantime; and what representations he has received about the need for rapid agreement on a definitive solution.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe European Community has not yet managed to agree harmonised rules for imports of silk textiles from state-trading countries for 1993 and onwards. In the interim, and following representations from a number of trade associations and commercial interests, the United Kingdom has provisionally rolled over into 1993 the national arrangements that were in force in 1992 but has applied them on a quarterly basis.