§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what distinctions his Department makes between paleontological discoveries and coal, in relation to export licences;
(2) what statement was made by his Department on 22 December 1989 in relation to the legal position regarding paleontological exports.
§ Mr. Redwood[holding answer 8 January 1990]: My Department is guided by the provisions of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987, (S.I. 1987 No. 2070) as they apply to exports of antiques, collectors' items and so on. My Department stated on 21 December that it had concluded that group B of the order should not be interpreted as bringing within export control fossils which are not the remains of man-made objects. Such fossils therefore do not require a licence under the order for export to any destination.