§ 28. Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Attorney-General what prosecutions have been initiated against alleged breaches of export control law regarding sales to Iraq or Iran since the publication of the Scott report.[25661]
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Nicholas Lyell)I am informed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise that no prosecutions have been commenced in relation to export licence violations to Iran or Iraq since the publication of the Scott report.
§ Mr. SmithWill the Minister comment on the statement on page 851 of volume II of the Scott report:
If it is right, and I think it is, that Government policy on exports to Iraq was to some extent undermined by the use of Jordan as a diversionary route, the decision that that was a price that was worth paying in order to preserve the political advantages"—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I had not realised that the hon. Gentleman was quoting. In Question Time, 765 hon. Members should not quote directly, but paraphrase. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will do so—or give an indication of the matter to which he is referring—and I am sure that the Minister will respond.
§ Mr. SmithDoes the Minister think that it is right that third countries should be used by military exporters to circumvent the rules on arms exports?
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo, that is most unlikely to be right—but the part that it plays in any individual prosecution will depend on the facts.