HC Deb 14 July 1975 vol 895 cc365-6W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the average length of time taken by his Department to provide an import quantity surveillance licence.

Mr. Deakins

On average the length of time from receipt of a properly completed application to the despatch of a licence is three working days.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why it is necessary to obtain a separate import quantity sur- veillance licence for textile merchandise imported through United Kingdom ports from countries outside the EEC when this information is contained on form C10, a duplicate of which is supplied to his Department in respect of all United Kingdom imports.

Mr. Deakins

The surveillance arrangements enable us to obtain more detailed information about actual imports than is available from normal sources, and also provide information about importers' forward intentions.