asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the textile trade talks in Hong Kong.

The inter-industry negotiations are still in progreses.

Is the Minister aware that the industry will be flabbergasted by that reply and that the commission which has returned from Hong Kong has already reported to the Cotton Board in Lancashire? Is not Parliament entitled to know what is going on?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the negotiations are confidential, and I think it would be quite inappropriate for me to comment at this stage on the present position of the negotiations.