TNAG-0301-FCO40-337-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 172

AND THE CONSUMER TO THE CONSUMER ALONE.

WITH THE PISE IN LIVING STANDARDS IN BRITAIN HE DID NOT CREPEAT, NOT)

EXPECT DEMAND TO PC CUT BACK BY THIS CHANGE.

TAKING UP A POINT MADE BY INDIA'S FOREIGH NINISTER, SARDAR

SWARAN DINGH, MR HEATH SAID THE BRITISH COVERINENT HAD

CONFIRMED THE DECISION OF ITS PREDECESSOR TO REPLACE A QUOTA

SYSTEM FOR TEXTILE IMPORTS BY A TARIFF.

HE DID NOT CREPEAT NOT) EXPECT THIS CHANGE WOULD CAUSE

ANY REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF COMMONWEALTH TEXTILES ENTERING

^

THE BRITISH MARKET. IF IT DID, IT COULD BE CONSIDERED

WITH THE COUNTRY CONCERNED. HE GAVE FIGURES TO ILLUSTRATE

HOW DRAMATICALLY THE LANCASHIRE TEXTILE INDUSTRY HAD BEEN REDUCED

$';

OVER THE PAST SIXTY CREPEAT SIXTY YEARS. BRITAIN NOW

IMPORTED 43 PER CENT OF THE TEXTILES SHE USED,

AND 24 PER CENT OF THEM CAME FROM THE COMMONWEALTH,

ON COMMODITY AGREEMENTS, MR HEATH AGREED WITH THE JAMAICA

PRIBE MINISTER HUGH SHEARER THAT THERE WAS NEED FOR A FRESH LOOK

AT THEM. 2RITAIN WAS A PARTY TO SUCH AGREEMENTS FOR SUGAR,

TIN, COCOA, ETC., BUT AS ONLY ONE AMONG A NUMBER OF

CONSUMING COUNTRIES HER VIEW DID NOT CREPEAT NOT) NECESSARILY

PREVAIL.

HE THOUGHT THERE MIGHT WELL BE A CASE FOR A COMMODITY AGREEMENT

ON TEA, AS CEYLON'S PRIME MINISTER MRS SIRINA BANDAR ANA IKE

HAD SUGGESTED.

TALKING ON TERMS OF AID, MR HEATH COMMENTED THAT NUSTY PER

CENT OF LOANS BY BRITAIN WERE INTEREST-FREE, FORTY SEVEN PER

CENT OF AID WAS IN THE FORM OF GRANTS,

HE THOUGHT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION'S

LENDING POLICIES, WHICH HAD BEEN DISCUSSED BY COMMONWEALTH

rr

FIANCE #INISTERS IN CYPRUS LAST AUTUIN

*

SHOULD BE MORE

LIBERAL. HE ALSO TOOK A LIBERAL VICU CH TIED AID, ON

~3~

/WHICH