§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in order to review 6W United Kingdom policy and practice in connection with the response to Arab boycotts of firms trading with Israel, he will at the forthcoming economic summit meeting seek comparative information on the US legislation which is designed to ensure that the American business community is not put at a disadvantage by Arab threats of diverting business.
§ Mr. DellI am already aware of the United States legislation and will watch its operation in practice.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what advice his Department gives to companies whose overseas trading activities are threatened by the operation of the Arab boycott against companies trading with Israel;
(2) whether Her Majesty's Government will take reciprocal action against countries boycotting goods produced by British companies;
(3) how many British companies are known to have ceased trading with Israel as the result of being black-listed by Arab countries;
(4) what consultations have taken place with the Metal Box Company and its customers concerning the pressures being brought to bear by Arab countries and individuals because of its 27 per cent. stake in the Israel Can Company.
§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether he will list the number and names of British firms which he knows to have agreed to comply with the requirements of the Arab Boycott Office to cease trading with Israel;
(2) whether he will reconsider his policy of leaving to individual companies the decision as to whether to comply with boycotts against friendly States;
(3) whether he will make a further statement on his policy towards the Arab boycott against Israel, in the light of the decision of the Metal Box Company to submit to the Arab boycott.
§ Mr. DellHer Majesty's Government are opposed to all trade boycotts which lack international support and authority. It remains our policy that individual firms should decide their own attitude to the Arab boycott in the light of their commercial judgment. The advice 7W and assistance of my officials are available to any British firm which wishes to consult them. Any such discussions are always undertaken in strict confidence. The advice naturally depends on the nature of the problem, but my officials ensure that companies which contact them are under no misapprehension about the operation of the Arab boycott as we understand it. They point out that many British companies trade successfully in both Arab and Israeli markets. It is not the practice of my Department to require firms to report their attitude towards the boycott or their trading plans.