§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether his Department has seen the documents demanded by the United States Department of Justice from British shipping companies on North Atlantic shipping routes; and whether he is satisfied that such companies do not operate to the disadvantage of the consumer interest;
(2) whether he is satisfied with the way that freight rates are determined on the North Atlantic shipping routes; and whether his Department is consulted on these freight rates which could affect the British exports trade and relations with the United States of America.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisDocuments located in the United Kingdom, and recently demanded in pursuit of the US Department of Justice's investigation of ocean transportation, relate to a wide range of commercial matters. These matters, which include the determination of freight rates on the North Atlantic shipping routes, are settled by normal commercial negotiation, in the conduct of which it is not Her Majesty's Government's practice to intervene.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Trade what advice his Department has given to British shipping companies about releasing documents to the United States Department of Justice concerning their activities on the North Atlantic shipping routes.
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§ Mr. Clinton DavisNone of the documents demanded in the Department of Justice investigation and which are situated in the United Kingdom is within the proper jurisdiction of the United States authorities; disclosure of such documents would constitute an infringement of the jurisdiction which under international law belongs to the United Kingdom. The Shipping Contracts and Commercial Documents Act 1964 was enacted to protect the United Kingdom's legitimate interests in this area. My right hon. Friend has accordingly given directions under Section 2 of the 1964 Act to those persons in the United Kingdom who are recipients of subpoenas in this case, prohibiting the disclosure of documents located in the United Kingdom, or any information compiled from such documents.