asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the next reduction in tariffs on EEC imports is due; and what effect this will have on the prices and volume of manufactures imported from the EEC.

The next reduction in tariffs is on 1st January 1977, when the existing tariff on imports of horticultural products from the EEC will be halved. Duties on all other goods from the EEC will be abolished by 1st July 1977. The effect of these changes on trade in manufactures is likely to be small, although it is not possible to quantify price-volume changes caused by tariff reductions as distinct from other macro-economic factors.