OPTION I
To over-license all firm orders placed before 8 December after doing what we can to get as many as possible accommodated (by the overseas Governments whom we have asked to go on administering the quotas) within the 1972 quotas.
OPTION II
To enforce the quotas, either (i) leaving exporting countries to allocate them with a firm warning that we would not let in goods shipped in excess; or (ii) taking back the administration of the quotas and allocating them ourselves.
OPTION III
Some compromise under which we permitted limited over-licensing.
6 OPTION I would satisfy importers and overseas suppliers. But it would run seriously counter to Ministers' decision to contain imports, the increase in imports could well cause further unemployment in Lancashire and the higher level established in 1972 would probably form the basis for the quotas we can expect to have
established in 1973 and beyond under the enlarged Community's import scheme. Lancashire would raise the strongest objections. This option would also tend to favour new overseas suppliers at the expense of traditional suppliers like Hong Kong and India.
7 OPTION II (either version) would mean that HMG
/forced