HL Deb 27 June 1968 vol 293 cc1544-6
THE EARL OF DUNDONALD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why since May 20 this year Board of Trade export licences are required for the sale of commercial marine gyro compasses to all countries apart from the Commonwealth (except Rhodesia), the United States, South Africa and Southern Ireland.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC BUILDING AND WORKS (LORD WINTERBOTTOM)

My Lords, gyro compasses of specified characteristics are included in the list of goods subject to strategic embargo and are subject to export licensing control for that reason. As a result of an agreement in 1966 with the countries with whom we co-operate in these controls, the scope of the heading concerned was extended.

THE EARL OF DUNDONALD

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for his reply, may I ask him two supplementary questions? Many of the compasses which since May 20 have been subject to export licensing control have been exported to friendly countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark, in the last 10 or 15 years; and does he not think it rather odd to reimpose, one could say, a formality on their going to those parts of the world? Secondly, would he not agree that at a time when manufacturers are being exhorted to export more and more the imposition of this formality on these friendly countries is going to cause delays, more nonproductive paper work and possibly fewer orders?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I have every sympathy with the noble Earl in his wish to see the British export industry continue to grow in this field, which is an important one. However, as he may know, there have been representations about certain gyro compasses, and as a result the description in the embargo list will be considered in the next review, when any points made by the noble Earl can be taken into account.

LORD RHODES

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether any of these licences have been refused and, if so, which countries are affected?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I cannot answer in detail, but I gather from the noble Earl that perhaps such licences have been refused.

THE EARL OF DUNDONALD

My Lords, if I may come back with one further question, it is this. For many years it has been possible to export compasses of this nature to countries other than those named in my Question, and this does not include the Iron Curtain bloc. Why have export licences now been reintroduced in regard to friendly countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark and many others? That is the basis of my question.

LORD WINTER BOTTOM

My Lords, I have every sympathy with the point the noble Earl has made and I hope that the point I made about reconsideration will give him satisfaction.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether or not American interests in British marine gyro compasses had anything to do with the situation?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, that is another question.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I hope that the noble Lord will take this matter back to the Minister concerned. I must confess that I am puzzled. As I understand it, the embargo list is concerned entirely with the Soviet bloc countries; therefore I cannot, for the life of me, see why export licences are required for friendly Western European countries.

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I have a great deal of sympathy with what the noble Earl has said. In point of fact, the embargo related to the strategic controls under the CocoM organisation—that is, the NATO countries, less Iceland, plus Japan. As we all know, Sweden is not part of NATO. But I will, of course, consider the points made by noble Lords and see that the appropriate authorities are informed.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, may I ask whether this requirement for export licences applies to gyro compasses for use in aircraft?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, that is another question.