§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has taken steps to recover or investigate the retention of United Kingdom export documents and export licences held by the United States Department of Commerce in relation to Systime plc; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkNo. I have no evidence that any such steps are called for, nor have I been asked to take them by the company.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps Her Majesty's Government took to seek to protect United Kingdom sovereignty and to seek to secure the observance of international law in the proceedings in which the United States Government fined Systime plc of Leeds.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIn line with a request from the company the Government did not intervene in the United States Department of Commerce action against Systime, but a formal protest was made to the United States authorities.