§ Mr. Hubbard-Milesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now take steps to control the supply to Iran and Iraq of substances which can be used to make chemical weapons.
§ Mr. ChannonThe Government have noted with grave concern the report of a UN inspection team published on 26 March which confirms that chemical weapons have been used in the war between Iran and Iraq. The Government are strongly opposed to the use of such weapons and are determined that chemicals for their manufacture are not exported from the United Kingdom to either of these countries.
My right hon. Friend has therefore today made the Export of Goods (Control) (Amendment No. 6) Order providing that eight chemicals which could be used for the manufacture of chemical weapons may not be exported to Iran or Iraq without a licence from my Department. The order takes effect immediately.
The chemicals in question are as follows:
- Chloroethanol.
- Thiodiglycol.
- Dimethylamine.
- Phosphorous Oxychloride.
- Methyl Phosphonyl Difluoride.
- Methyl Phosphonyl Dichloride.
- Dimethyl Methylphosphonate.
- Potassium Fluoride.
The controls will be applied for six months in the first instance and the list of controlled chemicals will be kept under review.
These chemicals are widely used for normal industrial purposes and freely available from a number of countries.
340WLicences for their export from the United Kingdom to Iran and Iraq will be issued only if my right hon. Friend is satisfied that they will be used for bona fide industrial purposes.
We are in close touch with our partners in the European Community who are urgently considering similar action. We are also in touch with other OECD countries and are urging them to act.