No room at the DTI
Sir: May I add factual colour to Adrian Berry's letter (7 April) in which he com- ments on the obstruction of industry by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Next month, an International Philatelic Exhibition at Alexandra Palace is attract- ing representatives from 110 postal admi- nistrations. My small company specialises in the manufacturing of machines for those administrations. We are totally export- orientated. Our efforts in 1989 won us a small business export award. Unfortunately — possibly predictably Alexandra Palace has insufficient space for all would-be exhibitions. I wrote to Nicho- las Ridley asking if we could rent a small room for two or three evenings in his vast complex of offices in Victoria. In one fell swoop, we could demonstrate our wares to the world. Receiving no reply after four weeks, I telephoned his office to be told by a Mr Carlton Evans the letter had not been received. I was asked to fax a copy. Three weeks passed; I again phoned. I was told that my request was not possible 'for security reasons'.
I wonder — would I have fared better with an Egyptian passport?
Stephen Mayer
Stephen Mayer International Ltd, Balcombe, W. Sussex
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