Ivory (Hansard, 29 March 1990)

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any ivory is currently being held by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

§ Mr. Ryder
Yes. Quantities of ivory are regularly seized by customs and held pending disposal.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to produce records of ivory seizures since 12 April 1989.

§ Mr. Ryder
No. As I said in my reply of 23 October 1989,Official Report, columns 286–87 to an earlier question on this topic, detailed information about such seizures is compiled only periodically. Customs will be doing so in connection with publication of the commissioners' annual report for the year ending 31 March 1990.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the fate of the five consignments of ivory held at Heathrow airport and referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 6 June 1989,Official Report, column 118.

§ Mr. Ryder
All five consignments have now been seized. No further details can be given at this stage because court proceedings in relation to forfeiture of the goods are in prospect.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consignments of ivory were detained or seized by customs officers in 1989 and 1990 to date.

§ Mr. Ryder
Records of detentions which do not result in seizure are not maintained centrally and information about them could be obtained only at disproportionate expense. Information about seizures is compiled only periodically. Customs will be doing so in connection with publication of the commissioners' annual report for the year ending 31 March 1990.