§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions in each of the last three years and in respect of which items of trade the United Kingdom Government has invoked article 36 to restrict imports into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Ridley[holding answer 22 February 1990]: Under article 36 of the treaty of Rome my Department operates longstanding restrictions on imports from Community members of firearms and ammunition and certain fissile materials. My Department has not, over the last three years, used article 36 to introduce new measures on Community products. Other Government Departments operate similar longstanding restrictions on such products as drugs, explosives and indecent or obscene articles for reasons of health, safety or public policy.