§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates(a) Ministers and (b) representatives of his Department met representatives of Metta Trading Ltd. to discuss matters relating to imports and exports. [32317]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 17 June 1996]: There has not been any such meeting between Ministers of my Department and representatives of Metalchem 12W International Ltd. On 12 and 19 March 1993 and on 10 August 1993, as part of a programme of routine company visits, officials of my Department discussed the consequences of UK sanctions legislation with personnel of the company and its subsidiaries.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates prior to July 1993(a) Ministers and (b) departmental officials (i) corresponded with and (ii) discussed with Mr. Jovan Zebic or his representatives' compliance with United Kingdom legislation in respect of membership of the boards of Serbian-related companies or companies trading with Serbia. [32314]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 17 June 1996]: There has not been any such correspondence between Ministers or officials of my Department and Mr. Jovan Zebic or his representatives, nor have any such discussions taken place. Between 29 April and 29 July 1993, officials of my Department corresponded with representatives of Tsvetmetexport, a Russian company, which at that time owned 49 per cent. of the shares of Metta Trading Ltd., of which Mr. Zebic was a director until his resignation on 29 July 1993.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date Ministers were first informed that Messrs Metalchem International and Metta Trading Ltd. were(a) owned by, (b) controlled by and (c) acting on behalf of Serbian interests. [32315]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 17 June 1996]: A list of companies operating in the UK that constituted "persons connected with Serbia or Montenegro", as defined in the Serbia and Montenegro (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1992, formed the annexe to a submission to Ministers, dated 8 January 1993. Metalchem International Ltd. and Metta Trading Ltd. were among the 36 companies listed.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date his Department was first notified that(a) Metta Trading Ltd. and (b) companies acting as its agents or representatives had breached trade sanctions legislation. [32318]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 17 June 1996]: My Department has not been notified of any alleged breach of sanctions by Metta Trading Ltd. or companies acting as their agents or representatives.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the compliance of Messrs P. J. Forbes with regulations governing restrictions on trade with Serbian-related interests. [32313]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 17 June 1996]: None. The investigation and prosecution of alleged breaches of the sanctions on trade with Serbia and Montenegro is a matter for HM Customs and Excise, to whom any relevant information should be provided.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates(a) Ministers and (b) representatives of his Department met representatives of Metalchem International Ltd. to discuss matters relating to imports and exports. [32316]
13W
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 17 June 1996]: There has not been any such meeting between Ministers of my Department and representatives of Metalchem International Ltd. On 12 and 19 March 1993 and on 10 August 1993, as part of a programme of routine company visits, officials of my Department discussed the consequences of UK sanctions legislation with personnel of the company and its subsidiaries.