§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why were a quantity of African elephant tusks detained by Customs and Excise in the Flying Tigers customs shed at Heathrow airport on 20 April 1989; for whom and where the tusks were to be delivered; and what was the total weight of ivory involved.
§ Mr. LilleyFive consignments of raw ivory are currently held at the airport at Heathrow. Two have been seized and three were detained on 12 April. The validity of the export permits produced for this ivory is being checked by the international ivory trade monitoring unit. No further details can be given at this stage.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide full details of all shipments of ivory by nature, value, country of origin and documentation discrepancy currently being detained at British ports of entry.
§ Mr. Lilley[holding answer 25 May 1989]: Details of individual consignments where Customs action is not yet completed cannot be disclosed.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cargoes of ivory are currently at British ports of entry in transit to other destinations; and what are those destinations.
§ Mr. Lilley[holding answer 25 May 1989]: Information on such cargoes is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.