§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what routine arrangements exist for co-ordination between Customs and Excise officers and the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that regulations prohibiting the export of arms are carried out; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 23 April 1990]: Customs and Excise is in regular contact with the DTI on these matters. In particular, whenever customs staff at ports and airports in the course of their routine monitoring arrangements have grounds for suspecting an export licensing irregularity they are required to contact the Department of Trade and Industry for a ruling on the licensability of the items in question.