§ 17. Mr. PickthallTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is taking in relation to medical exports from Diagnostic Developments of Burscough, Lancashire, sent for export to Saudi Arabia and impounded by Customs and Excise at Heathrow. [13520]
§ Mr. NelsonI understand from Customs and Excise that the consignment was shipped from the United Kingdom on 25 January.
§ Mr. PickthallI am grateful for that helpful reply. Does the Minister understand that the shipment in question consisted of an agent for the determination of haemoglobin in blood supplies? It was going to Saudi Arabia and was contained in 6,500 50cc bottles at 2 per cent. of potassium cyanide. The Department of Trade and Industry official determined that the cyanide was recoverable. Is that the sort of efficiency in helping our small exporters that satisfies the Department? Before the Minister toddles off to Latin America advocating exports, will he ensure that the delays and the loss of business to which I referred are not repeated?
§ Mr. NelsonThe hon. Gentleman is right to say that we must be careful not to inhibit proper legitimate exports. However, as the House will be aware—especially this week—we must impose proper licences and controls on the export of hazardous goods. In the case in question—and certainly when Customs and Excise had first sight of the consignment at Heathrow—it was felt that potassium cyanide very much fell into that category. It was properly referred to my Department, which made a further technical assessment and validation of the end user. When that was cleared, the goods were also cleared for shipment. Sometimes that can take some time, but it is 1008 proper that the process should be gone through and that it should be done as expeditiously as possible—and my Department intends always so to do.