HC Deb 06 May 1993 vol 224 cc207-8W
Mr. Gapes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how sanctions against the former Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro are enforced; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1993]: Several Departments are responsible for applying sanctions in the United Kingdom. They act rigorously against any suspected breach of UN sanctions in co-operation with HM Customs and Excise.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the estimated value of total imports from former Yugoslavia in each year since 1990 and in 1993 to date;

(2) how many goods bearing labels stating "Made in Yugoslavia" or "Designed and Produced in Yugoslavia" were sold in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990 to date.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1993]: United Kingdom imports from Yugoslavia by (a) country of despatch, and (b) country of origin are given in the table.

The country of dispatch is the last country in which the goods were bought or sold before coming to the United Kingdom while the country of origin is the last overseas country in which significant processing took place. The available statistics do not separately identify the country where the goods are made, designed or produced, or how they are labelled.

United Kingdom imports from Yugoslavia 1
£ thousands
(a) Country of despatch (b) Country of origin
1990 189,435 219,931
1991 147,877 179,767
1992 123,797 150,458
19932 16,561 18,750
1 The figures 1993 refer to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovnia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Macedonia

2 January to February.

Sources:

(a) Business Monitor MM20, Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

(b) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether wooden butchers' blocks are included in the items which are covered by the complete United Nations embargo against Serbia and Montenegro.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1993]: Yes. The export of all goods to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia—Serbia and Montenegro—from the United Kingdom is prohibited. The only exceptions are foodstuffs, medicines and humanitarian aid which are licenced on a case-by-case basis.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what sanctions are applied to British companies selling goods made in the former Yugoslavia.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1993]: Sanctions apply to goods made in the former republics of Yugoslavia—Serbia and Montenegro—which left the republics after the imposition of sanctions on 30 May 1992. Breach of sanctions legislation can lead to the prosecution of companies involved.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards imports of goods bearing labels "Made in Yugoslavia".

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1993]: It is prohibited to import goods into the United Kingdom from the Republics of Yugoslavia—Serbia and Montenegro—and suspected breaches of sanctions legislation are investigated. However, goods which were imported into the United Kingdom from the former Yugoslavia before the imposition of sanctions on 30 May 1992 are not affected.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many import licences have been issued by his Department for import of goods from(a) the former Yugoslavia, (b) Serbia and (c) Montenegro since 31 May 1992; for what goods; for which companies; and at what total value.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1993]: Since 31 May 1992, the Department has issued 762 import licences for goods imported from the former Yugoslavia; 210 covered imports from Serbia and Montenego, mainly personal items of small value. Sanctions apply to all imports from Serbia and Montenegro and licences were issued only for goods exported before 31 May 1992 or where the United Nations gave approval. As regards the rest of the former Yugoslavia, no sanctions are in force; quantitative restrictions apply only to a limited number of goods and the licences issued were mainly for textile products—85 per cent. For reasons of confidentiality, the names of importers cannot be given. Licences are issued by reference to quantity rather than value.