HC Deb 21 May 1984 vol 60 cc326-7W
Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he proposes to terminate the continuing ban on the import of literature from Argentina for resale in the United Kingdom;

(2) whether he will list the countries from which the import of literature into the United Kingdom is the subject of a ban;

(3) whether he will list the countries from which the import of literature for resale in the United Kingdom is the subject of a ban.

Mr. Fletcher

Pornography and horror comics apart, the Government restrict imports of literature only to the extent that publications for resale, exported from Argentina, are banned under the general import embargo on all goods exported from that country. The Government have made it clear on many occasions that they favour a return to normal commercial and economic relations with Argentina, but until that can be achieved on a reciprocal basis the current restrictions must remain in force.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many books have been imported from Argentina (a) for resale and (b) in total in each of the past five years.

Mr. Fletcher

Neither the number of books imported nor figures relating to books imported for resale is available. The value of identifiable imports of printed books, booklets, brochures, pamphlets and leaflets from Argentina is as follows:

£ thousands (cif)
1979 1
1980 1
1982 5

Source: Data corresponding to SITC/R2 Item 892.11 in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.

Notes:

  1. (a) No imports of books etc. from Argentina were recorded in 1981 and 1983.
  2. (b) Figures exclude any imports of books etc. sent by parcel post, which are included in SITC/R2 Group 911 (postal packages not classified according to kind).
  3. (c) Figures also exclude any imports of an individual value less than £200, which are included under low-value trade in SITC/R2 Group 931 (special transactions and commodities not classified according to kind).
  4. (d) Imports in 1982 all fell within the three months from February to April inclusive.