§ Mr. ButcherTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance he is giving British carpet manufacturers in obtaining evidence of illegal subsidies to the Belgian carpet manufacturing industry; and if he will request the European Commission to institute an official investigation into subsidies applied by national and regional authorities for Belgium.
§ Mr. SainsburyI have received allegations from British carpet and textile organisations of financial assistance to textile companies in Wallonia recently and am seeking to clarify the factual position. If the allegations are verified, I will ask the Commission to take action.