HC Deb 17 June 1991 vol 193 cc54-5W
Mr. Batiste

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the Arab boycott of United Kingdom companies trading with Israel.

Mr. Sainsbury

Her Majesty's Government are opposed to and deplore all trade boycotts that lack international support and authority. It is not however our policy to interfere with the commercial decisions of British firms.

Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will set out in tabular form for each of the European Community countries, including the United Kingdom, such information as he has on their statutory provisions regarding compliance with the Arab trade boycott of Israel; and what action he intends to propose to harmonise legislation on this matter after 1992.

Mr. Sainsbury

[holding answer 11 June 1991]: The following table shows the legislative position of European Community countries as regards the Arab trade boycott of Israel.

Country Statutory provisions
Belgium None
Denmark None
Irish Republic None
France 1
Germany None
Greece 2
Italy None
Luxembourg None
Netherlands 3
Portugal None
Spain None
United Kingdom None
1 Article 31 (known as the "Krieg amendment") to Law No. 77574 of 7 June 1977 in effect made it illegal to comply with the boycott in France, although the article was couched in general terms. However, since this prevented French firms from trading with the Arab countries, an administrative instrument was introduced in 1981 which permits the anti-boycott legislation in effect to be ignored.
2 Greek legislation is in support of the Arab boycott of Israel.
3 Dutch legislation is a general law relating to all boycotts except those agreed by the Netherlands and organisations to which the Netherlands belongs and boycotts imposed solely on the grounds of

economic policy.

Companies have to notify the Minister of Economic Affairs of requests made to them to apply a boycott. Annual reports to Parliament on the operation of the law are required.