§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2000,Official Report, column 449W, if the European Commission has asked the UK, through HM Customs and Excise, to begin a posteriori verification measures under the Origin Rules Protocol in respect of imports from Israel. [130181]
§ Dawn PrimaroloYes.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2000,Official Report, column 450W, following the Israeli Government's admission concerning the definition of territoriality it uses in issuing certificates of origin, if the European Commission will require security bonds or deposits on new importations of products labelled, "Made in Israel", similar to those previously shown to have been produced in settlements on the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights. [130183]
§ Dawn PrimaroloNo such decision has yet been taken.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in cases prior to October 1999, where HM Customs and Excise initiated a posteriori verification procedures with Israel's customs concerning importations under preferences of products that Customs and Excise had reason to suspect may have been wholly produced or substantially processed in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, what answers HM Customs and Excise received from Israeli customs concerning the originating status of the products concerned. [130185]
§ Dawn PrimaroloNo such verifications were initiated.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2000,Official Report, column 449W, if HM Customs and Excise have begun to apply, or will apply, a posteriori verification measures under the Origin Rules Protocol to (a) all Israeli products and (b) new imports of products labelled, "Made in Israel", similar to those previously shown to have been produced in settlements on the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights. [130182]
§ Dawn PrimaroloHM Customs and Excise have begun a posteriori verifications based on information supplied to it by the European Commission. No decision on additional verification measures beyond this has yet been taken.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2000,Official Report, column 449W, when the European Commission completed its assessment of the evidence provided by HM Customs and Excise relating to Israeli violations of the EC-Israel Trade Agreement. [130180]
§ Dawn PrimaroloAt the beginning of April 2000, the European Commission instructed member states to commence verification inquiries with Israel as set out in Article 32 of Protocol 4 to the EC-Israel Trade Agreement.
95W
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there have been instances where imports to Britain, accompanied by Israeli certificates of origin, have been prevented by HM Customs and Excise from benefiting from preferential treatment because the labelling, the locales named in the origin certificates, or other information indicated that the goods in question were wholly produced or substantially processed in the occupied territories of the West Bank, Gaza or Golan Heights. [130184]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThere have been no such instances.