§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of Start for Trade what steps are being taken to compensate companies who are to be adversely affected by sanctions against Iran.
§ Mr. NottThere is no precedent for compensation where sanctions are imposed in these circumstances. Furthermore, as my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal has announced, sanctions are not to be applied retrospectively. The exclusion of existing contracts should minimise the direct adverse effects of sanctions on companies.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the total value of exports to Iran in 1979, in January to March of the current year and April to the present date;
(2) if he will give a detailed breakdown of the goods exported to Iran in 1979 and so far during the current year; 395W which areas in the United Kingdom were mainly involved in exporting to Iran; and how many employees were involved.
§ Mr. NottDetails of our exports to Iran are published on page 25 of table V of the monthlyOverseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, copies of which are in the Library. As statistics of overseas trade are not collected on a regional basis, I cannot say which parts of the country accounted for these exports or how many employees were involved.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received regarding sanctions against Iran; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NottMy Department has received a number of representations, particularly
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY COUNTRIES' TRADE WITH IRAN Million US $ (not seasonally adjusted) 1979 Year 1980 January 1980 February 1980 March Exports to Iran from Belgium-Luxembourg … … 138* Denmark … … … … 88 7 8 France … … … … 422 72 57 Federal Republic of Germany … 1,284 140 131 Ireland … … … … 15 Italy … … … … 412 Netherlands … … … 237 29 United Kingdom … … … 492 52 86 Imports from Iran into Belgium-Luxembourg … … 386 Denmark … … … … 120 1 1 France … … … … 1,034 154 133 Federal Republic of Germany … 2,321 376 357 Ireland … … … … 36 Italy … … … … 411 Netherlands … … … 946 123 United Kingdom … … … 517 67 12 36 * January-November 1979, latest available figure. Sources: OECD—Statistics of Foreign Trade series A; Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom; German and Danish national sources.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give details of the goods exported to Iran by country of origin from other EEC countries.
396W
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY COUNTRIES' EXPORTS TO IRAN BY BROAD PRODUCT GROUP 1978 Million US $ SITC No* 0+1 2+4 3 5 6 7 8 9 Total trade Belgium/Luxembourg 14 2 2 44 201 50 7 5 326 Denmark … … 43 2 — 4 4 35 3 1 92 France … … 115 7 4 55 183 478 45 2 889 from companies concerned about existing contracts.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ensure in the necessary orders that firms located in areas of above average unemployment are exempted from sanctions against Iran.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Trade what was, by country of origin, the amount of trade conducted by the other countries in the EEC with Iran compared to the United Kingdom during 1979 and during 1980.
§ Mr. NottInformation, in US dollar terms, for 1978—the latest year available —is given in the table below. For ease of comparison, dollar figures are also given for the United Kingdom.
397W
Federal Republic of Germany … 50 33 16 253 671 2,195 116 45 3,381 Ireland … … 13 — — 10 2 4 1 — 30 Italy … … 3 12 7 108 313 556 71 — 1,069 Netherlands … 46 20 1 64 35 132 17 1 315 United Kingdom … 30 5 3 136 212 821 70 1 1,278 Source: OECD Microfiche.
*SITC 0+1 Food, drink and tobacco. 2+4 Basic materials. 3 Fuels. 5 Chemicals. 6 Other semi-manufactures. 7 Machinery and transport equipment. 8 Other finished manufactures. 9 Miscellaneous.
§ Dr Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in respect of sanctions imposed on trade with Iran it is his policy to treat (a) contracts entered into since 4 November 1979 as existing contracts and (b) contracts renewed as existing contracts.
§ Mr. NottMy right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal informed the House on 20 May that sanctions are not to be applied retrospectively. The scope of the sanctions will be set out in orders which will be laid before Parliament and which the House will be able to debate fully.