HC Deb 24 September 2002 vol 390 cc449-50W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the supply of military equipment to Somalia from the UK. [68820]

Nigel Griffiths

Companies exporting arms and other items controlled for strategic reasons from the UK to Somalia require an export licence from the Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation.

In line with United Nations (UN) sanctions, no exports of military equipment to Somalia are permitted apart from items of humanitarian end-use approved by the UN Sanctions Committee. UNSCR 733 (1992) imposed an arms embargo on Somalia covering "all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia until the Council decides otherwise". UNSCR 1356 (2001) amended the scope of the embargo to allow the export of humanitarian exports and protective clothing approved by

Number of jobs that come under the remit of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Scotland (excluding Greater London)
Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent (C) Posts (A) WTE (B) Per cent. (C)
Core department 943 889.50 0.59 18,722 17,356.90 11.69
Non-departmental public bodies 936 913.5 0.58 6,293 6,136.85 3.93
Executive agencies 13,947 12,987.22 8.71 88,705 80,627.05 55.41
Independent statutory bodies 0 0 0 239.2 228.58 0.15

the UN Sanctions Committee. UNSCR 1425 (2002) widened the scope of the embargo to prohibit "the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities."

All relevant export licence applications for Somalia are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria and the UN arms embargo; taking into account the particular circumstances prevailing at the time and other relevant previously announced Government policies.