asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to announce the introduction of antidumping measures to regulate paper and board imports.

Anti-dumping duties can be imposed only after proof of dumping and actual or threatened material injury. An application for anti-dumping action in respect of certain grades of paper was made some time ago. I wrote on 17th September to remind the industry that I still awaited certain information. The evidence we and the industry have gathered does not yet suffice for the instigation of a formal investigation, let alone the imposition of duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions his Department has had with the British Paper and Board Industry Federation and the relevant trade unions about the introduction of anti-dumping measures; and what has been the outcome of those discussions.

My officials have had frequent discussions with the industry to see whether sufficient prima facie evidence of dumping and material injury can be produced to support its request for antidumping action. On 28th July I myself saw the British Paper and Board Industry Federation, the unions and representatives of NEDO, when the whole position was reviewed, but the evidence available does not so far justify a formal investigation. Since then, however, the circumstances affecting the industry have changed somewhat and I understand that, after further discussions at official level, the industry is now considering the possibility of a quite different anti-dumping approach.