HC Deb 04 November 1976 vol 918 cc712-4W
Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list, according to type and date, the illegal explosives and weapons revealed in pasenger security searches at London Airport in the years 1974, 1975, and 1976 to date, indicating the destination countries of the passengers involved.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The information is not readily available in the form requested. But the following table shows the numbers of weapons, whether real or replica, antique, or otherwise unserviceable, and potentially dangerous articles—for example, knives, spears, bows and arrows, toxic sprays and harpoon guns—discovered during searches of passengers travelling on British aircraft during the period.

Firearms Potentially Dangerous
Real Other Articles
1974 … 64 926 1,835
1975 … 96 1,353 2,265
1976 … 81 1,513 2,244

No explosive substances have been discovered. Airlines do not state the specific flights of the passengers concerned.

There was no evidence in any case where weapons or dangerous articles were found that the passenger intended to commit an offence.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he will make to the United States Government about the use of the term "Stilton" to describe a cheese made in the United States of America and sold with wrappers showing the Houses of Parliament and the Union Jack.

Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will arrange for an approach to be made to the United States Government designed to bring an end to the production of cheese called Stilton in that country;

(2) what action Her Majesty's Government have taken in the past five years to express their desire that the production of cheese called Stilton in the United States of America cease; and if he will make representations to the incoming United States President on this matter;

(3) in view of the fact that a product called Stilton is now being produced in Winconsin, United States of America, what steps he will take to protect the good name of Stilton and other English-made cheeses.

Mr. Meacher

The British Embassy in Washington has made numerous approaches to the United States Food and Drug Administration in the past five years about problems posed by the marketing of a United States cheese as Stilton. Throughout, the Government have worked in close consultation with the Stilton Cheesemakers Association and its lawyers in the United States. The FDA agreed to instruct the United States company concerned to cease to use misleading wrappers, but there has been recent evidence that it is still doing so and the embassy has raised the matter with the FDA again in the past month. We will consider in the light of its reply and of further consultations with the Stilton Cheesemakers Association what further action is appropriate.