To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom position with regard to the renegotiation of the international natural rubber agreement.

Government policy towards international commodity agreements was given by the then Minister for Trade in response to a question from the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West, (Mr. Page) on 21 July 1988, Official Report, columns 767–8. Against this background, we do not consider that a third international natural rubber agreement is desirable.The United Kingdom acts in such matters in consultation with other member states of the European Community. Other member states are also opposed to renegotiation at present.