§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for West Lothian, Official Report, 21 June, c. 15, if he has now completed his consideration of the use of end user certificates for arms exports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe Department of Trade issues export licences for the export of arms on the basis of advice from other Government Departments concerned. End user certificates, by which I assume the hon. Member has in mind undertakings not to re-export, are required in respect of sales of arms and military equipment to non-governmental customers. In respect of exports to non-governmental purchasers from countries within the COCOM arrangements an international import certificate—that is, an undertaking not to re-export without the consent of the Government of the country concerned—is required to be furnished before my Department grants an export licence: for non-COCOM countries a comparable undertaking is normally required.
The long-standing licensing arrangements operated by successive Administrations for major arms sales to foreign Governments do not include specific end-use certificate in the sense described above. Such certificates could not bind sovereign Governments. Exports to foreign Governments are, of course, permitted only after a very stringent scrutiny of whether they are in every respect in the national interest.
If the hon. Member has any firm evidence of arms and military equipment exported from this country being diverted to a destination other than that for which an export licence was issued I shall of course be willing to look into it.