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Oral Answers
17 JANUARY 1972
Oral Answers
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The Minister for Industry (Sir John Eden): The needs of clothing manufac- turers, along with those of the cotton textiles industry generally, were fully taken into account in reaching the decision to retain quota controls.
Mr. Tebbit: Is my hon. Friend aware that in his letter of 14th July replying to my letter dated 17th December about corduroy imports he said that the pur- pose of the quota controls was to pre- vent the United Kingdom industry from being disrupted by an upsurge in im- ports? The United Kingdom mills can- not take any more orders for two years. Is my hon. Friend aware that the dis- ruption my constituents fear is that they will lose their jobs because their cm- ployers cannot anywhere in the world market gain access to corduroy material to import to Britain before the end of 1972?
Sir J. Eden: The quota controls per- mit the import from the developing countries of 2 million square yards of finished corduroy. In addition to that, substantial quantitics of loom state cor- duroy would also be admitted. think that about 2 million square yards a year in_the_unfinished form are coming in from Hong Kong. The balance of the United Kingdom's requirements is made up by imports from the developed coun- tries, notably Canada, the United States of America and the Netherlands, which together supply about 41 million square yards of finished corduroy a year.
Mr. Arthur Lewis: In the latter part of his answer the Minister referred to imports from a number of Common- wealth countries. Will he assure us that if we join the Common Market no re- striction in this respect will be placed upon us by the E.E.C. and that imports from Commonwealth countries will be allowed to enter the country in the same way and on the same basis as now?
Sir J. Eden: From the beginning of this year the United Kingdom making up industry will have the new protection of a tariff on imports of woven cotton made-ups from the Commonwealth Pre- ference area.
Mr. Tebbit: On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seck to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
9 A 14
Ship Repairing
15. Mr. Douglas asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the pros- pects for the ship-repairing industry.
Sir J. Eden: It is for individual firms within the industry to assess their own prospects, which will depend primarily on their efficiency and competitiveness.
Mr. Douglas: Is the hon. Gentleman awarc that as merchant shipping becomes increasingly sophisticated the differences between high-class merchant ships and naval ships are greatly dimin ishing? This industry needs a spur for investment opportunities to equip itself for the potentialitics which are currently available and which will be available in the future.
Sir J. Eden: I am aware that there are difficulties facing the industry. Many of the reasons for these difficulties are outside the industry's own control and arise from such factors as the reduction in coastal trade, changes in the pattern of trade, increases in ship size beyond the capacity of United Kingdom facilities, labour troubles, and the difficulty many areas have had in fulfilling completion dates. These are matters the industry itself will have to put right.
Mr. Benn: Apart from the reasons for the difficulty, which are well known to the House, does not the re-equipment of the ship-repairing industry now, with sensible Government help, provide an opportunity of reducing unemployment in areas of very high unemployment and also of leaving Britain better equipped to deal with the very ships which the Minister mentioned in his answer and with which the existing industry is ill- equipped to cope?
Sir J. Eden: I believe that the existing industry is fully capable of meeting the difficulties it has been experiencing. is being encouraged to do just that.
Crowther Report
It
16. Dr. Gilbert asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now in a position to announce his proposals for legislation consequent upon the recommendations of the Crowther Report.
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