§ 2.40 p.m.
Viscount MONCKMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is the usual practice of the Department of Trade not to acknowledge within seven weeks a letter sent by a firm with an urgent inquiry about their policy regarding exports to a particular country.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMNo, my Lords; a formal acknowledgement was sent immediately. Oral advice on the question, about policy on trade, was conveyed by officials to the company before their director's negotiations in the country concerned. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade has now confirmed that advice in a written reply.
Viscount MONCKMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that the formal acknowledgement was never received? Is he further aware that the 1576 firm in question and I are extremely grateful to the noble Lord for the perseverance and help he has given in pursuing this matter to what I hope will now be a happy conclusion? Is he further aware that a repetition of such an incident might lead to the loss of an important export contract?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the noble Lord and I arc grateful that, at the end of the day, the right thing was done. We look forward to a continuation of the very happy relations between the company and country in question.