§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of the attendance of British arms companies at the forthcoming Baghdad international arms fair, he has any plans to change the current restrictions on the export of arms to Iraq.
§ Mr. Alan Clark[holding answer 19 April 1989]: There are no plans to change the current restrictions on the export of arms to Iraq which impose an embargo on the export of lethal equipment. A licence is required for the export to Iraq of goods which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, 1987, (SI 1987 No. 2070) as amended.
Applications for such licences are examined in particular against the guidelines on the export of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq announced to the House by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 29 October 1985 at column 454. The guidelines are kept under review in the light of developments in the situation there.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will indicate the criteria relating to the gravity of human rights violations committed by countries in relation to which arms export licences are sought which he uses in deciding whether to grant such licences.
§ Mr. Alan Clark[holding answer 19 April 1989]: A licence is required for the export of arms which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, 1987 (SI 1987 No. 2070) as amended. Licence applications are considered on a case by case basis, in accordance with stringent export control procedures which include, in particular, an assessment of the human rights record or the country concerned.
It is not our practice to grant a licence for the export of equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.