asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many employees in his Department deal with (a) scrutiny of imports and import documentation, (b) preparing charges for breaches of trade registration and giving legal advice and guidance on such matters, (c) representatives of importers at ports of entry in the United Kingdom and (d) anti-dumping.
The staff of my Department do not in the normal course of business scrutinize imports and import documentations. This is the responsibility of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. Nor does my Department have employees at the ports of entry in the United Kingdom to deal with representatives of importers. However, 75 staff are employed on the issue of import licences and, in addition 23 staff are employed in the Department's Anti-Dumping Unit.
There is no legal requirement in this country for trade registration.