§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action the British Government intend to take to ensure that British businesses are not adversely affected by the United States Cuba Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act. [23077]
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 27 March 1996]: The key provisions of this legislation are titles III and IV. Title III introduces a private right of action in the US courts for US nationals against non-US persons allegedly trafficking in property expropriated from US nationals in Cuba. Title IV excludes from the US any alien, including company officials and controlling shareholders, allegedly trafficking in confiscated property, a claim to which is owned by a US national.
The impact of the legislation on British business will depend on the way in which it is implemented by the US Administration and the US courts. The UK, the EU and other Governments have made a number of representations to the US authorities on the matter and the Government are considering what further action might be appropriate.