To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons HM Revenue and Customs (a) refused preference for and (b) investigated consignments of imports from Israel under the EU-Israel Trade Agreement in respect of (i) two consignments with commodity code 33079000, refused in August 2009, (ii) one consignment with commodity code 34013000, refused in November 2009 and (iii) one consignment with commodity code 34013000, under investigation. (322387)

HM Revenue and Customs refused preference for the three consignments in question as documentary checks confirmed that the place of production was in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. For the remaining consignment with commodity code 34013000, HMRC are awaiting confirmation of the place of production.