HC Deb 12 February 1979 vol 962 cc431-2W
Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the number and types of exemption for which (a) application was made and (b) permission was granted under the Carcinogenic Substances (Prohibition of Importation) Order 1967, in respect of prohibited carcinogenic substances in each year since the coming into force of the order; and what are the reasons for granting such exemptions.

Mr. John Grant

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the numbers of exemptions applied for and granted under the Carcinogenic Substances (Prohibition of Importation) Order 1967 have been as follows:

Applications Exemptions granted
1968 5 5
1969 3 3
1970 2 2
1971 1 1
1972 0 0
1973 0 0
1974 0 0
1975 0 0
1976 0 0
1977 0 0
1978 0 0

All the applications granted were to allow the importation of benizidine dihydrocholoride to be used as an intermediate in the manufacture of dyestuffs, which had been permitted by exemptions granted under regulation 5 (I)(iii) of the Carcinogenic Substances Regulations 1967.

The reason for granting these exemptions under the Carcinogenic Substances (Prohibition of Importation) Order 1967 was that the manufacture of benzidine dihydrochloride had been prohibited by regulation 4 of the Carcinogenic Substances Regulations 1967 and in consequence there was no source of supply from this country.