To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement outlining the steps which are currently being taken by his Department to ensure that exports by the apparel, knitting and textile industries do not face unfair barriers erected by other countries.

[holding answer 20 June 1990]: The question of unfair barriers to exports of all categories of goods is one of the subjects for decision in the current Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations. The Government supply information on barriers which we would like to see removed to the Commission, which conducts negotiations on behalf of member states. The Community's aim is to achieve a reduction by all parties in their tariff and non-tariff barriers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has concerning the level and value of exports of textile and clothing products from the United Kingdom in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what percentage these figures are of those for the same months in the previous year.

[holding answer 20 June 1990]: The available figures are as follows: