§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what communications his Department has had with Mr. Tim Kelsey ofThe Independent newspaper in regard to articles published in the paper on 22 and 23 June on possible circumvention of his Department's export control licensing procedures.
§ Mr. NeedhamMr. Kelsey contacted my Department's press office on a number of occasions in regard to the articles. I wrote to the editor ofThe Independent on 24 June pointing out that I was concerned about the allegations, that it was a criminal offence to supply fraudulent documents in support of an export licence application, and that Mr. Kelsey should provide evidence to substantiate the allegations. This has not so far been provided.