HL Deb 05 February 1979 vol 398 cc577-8WA
Baroness HORNSBY-SMITH

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the estimated loss in export sales resulting from the picketing of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, which has prevented the removal of the larger sea craft, many of which should now be showing at the Dusseldorf Boat Show, and the consequential limitation of the Toy Exhibition shortly due to open at Earls Court.

Lord JACQUES

We have been advised that the difficulties after the Earls Court International Boat Show arose more from the unavailability of lorries because of the drivers' dispute rather than from picketing of the Exhibition Centre. In the event, it seems that generally it was possible to improvise practical alternative display arrangements for exhibitors at the exhibitions that followed. It is difficult to quantify the effect on the level of United Kingdom export orders taken at Dusseldorf, but indications are that satisfactory results were achieved at the British Toy and Hobby Fair.

House adjourned at sixteen minutes before nine o'clock.