§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British companies have applied for protection under the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980.
§ Mr. ParkinsonSection 1 of the Act provides powers under which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may prohibit persons carrying on business in the United Kingdom from complying with measures taken by overseas countries which damage the trading interests of the United Kingdom. Section 2 provides powers for my right hon. Friend in certain circumstances to prohibit persons in the United Kingdom from passing to authorities of an overseas country commercial documents which are not within the territorial jurisdiction of that country or commercial information. There is no requirement for persons in the United Kingdom to apply for protection under the Act. These powers are discretionary and my right hon. Friend exercises them in the national interest. He, however, expects persons whose interests appear to be prejudiced by actions of overseas countries to consult the Department of Trade. Such consultations occur from time to time and are confidential.
Other provisions of the Act form part of the general law and are not exercisable by ministerial discretion.