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for marine research and has issued a report.
The Department is in discussion with industry on ways of improving the per- formance of submersibles.
Committee on Marine Technology
Mr. Laurance Reed asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Committee on Marine Technology will next produce a report on their progress.
Sir J. Eden: The Committee on Marine Technology is an interdepart- mental advisory committee and its func- tions and activities will be subject to the review of functions of central Government as announced in the White Paper on The Reorganisation of Central Government. I think it would be best if the Question of a further report of its progress were to await the outcome of
this review.
U.N.C.T.A.D. (Preferential Arrangements for Developing Countries)
Mr. Prentice asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation in the current session of Parliament to implement the new preferential arrangements for develop. ing countries agreed by the Trade Board of the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development.
Mr. Anthony Grant: I refer the right hon, Member to the Answers my right hon. Friend gave to him and to the right hon. Member for Kettering (Sir G. de Freitas) on 30th November and to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Normanton) on 10th December.- [Vol. 807, c. 264-5; Vol. 808, c. 183.]
་་ Mr. Prentice asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the new United Nations Commission for Trade and Development agreement on preferential arrangements for developing countries will come into effect.
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Mr. Anthony Grant: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon, and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish) on 7th December. -[Vol. 808, c. 26-27.]
Mr. Prentice asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, by what,
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stages Commonwealth preferences will disappear in favour of the new preferen- tial arrangements for all developing countries.
Mr. Anthony Grant: Like other major developed countries we intend to imple- ment the new preferences for developing countries in one step. Thus Common- wealth countries will from the outset share their existing preferences with developing countries generally on pro- ducts covered by our scheme.
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Mr. Prentice asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that the potential loss of trade by Commonwealth Caribbean countries in the United Kingdom, as a result of their competitors having access to the United Kingdom market under the new United Nations Commission for Trade and Development agreement, will be fully compensated by their access to other markets; and if he will make a state- ment.
Mr. Anthony Grant: We are not pro- posing to grant generalised preferences on the main imports from these countries now enjoying Commonwealth preference. Access to other markets will offer oppor- tunities for trade and investment but I cannot assess in advance what benefits may result. We shall be able to take this into account when reviewing the operation of our scheme.
Mr. Prentice asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements have been made for Hong Kong to participate in the new United Nations Commission for Trade and Development system of generalised preferences.
Mr. Anthony Grant: On behalf of Hong Kong we have claimed the benefit of generalised preferences for their ex- ports and we are discussing possible arrangements with other major industria- lised countries.
Mr. Prentice asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement describing the main exceptions to the general rule that manu- factured goods and processed foodstuffs from developing countries will shortly be admitted duty-free to the United Kingdom
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