Customs and Excise (Agency Agreements)

HC Deb 17 December 2002 vol 396 cc730-1W

Mr. Hammond

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a list of the agency agreements in place between HM Customs and private companies. [83450]

John Healey

HM Customs and Excise hold and maintain a list of agency agreements with Intellectual Property Right holders to fulfil their obligations under EC Regulation 3295/94 as amended by EC Regulation 241/1999.

The disclosure of this information would prejudice the enforcement operations of HM Customs and Excise in tackling groups and organisations committed to counterfeit, pirating or patent infringing activities. Exemptions 4 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply.