§ Mr. Wallasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the delay, reported to his Department by Dr. John Axton, in the supply of essential drugs to Rhodesia and the consequential deaths of three African children.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth DunwoodyI have seen reports in the Press that delays attributed to the Board of Trade over the shipment of essential drugs to Rhodesia may have resulted in the deaths of three African children. I cannot accept any imputation of delay on the part of the Board of Trade. The United Nations resolution on Rhodesian sanctions expressly excepts "supplies intended strictly for medical purposes" and although such supplies are subject to export licensing, in each of the two instances quoted the required licences were issued and despatched on the day that the applications were received.