§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) on 10 November,Official Report, columns 737–38, what was the start date for the application of the full embargo on the supply of arms to Iraq.
§ The Prime MinisterThe full embargo came into force at midnight on 8 August 1990 in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 661.
All relevant issues will be covered by Lord Justice Scott's inquiry whose terms of reference will be:
Having examined the facts in relation to the export from the United Kingdom of defence equipment and dual use goods to Iraq between December 1984 and August 1990 and the decisions reached on the export licence applications for such goods and the basis for them, to report on whether the relevant Departments, Agencies, and responsible Ministers operated in accordance with the policies of Her Majesty's Government; to examine and report on decisions taken by the prosecuting authority and by those signing public interest immunity certificates in R v Henderson and any other similar cases that he considers relevant to the issues of the inquiry; and to make recommendations".The terms of reference have not been restricted to Matrix Churchill. They include the supergun and other defence and dual-use sales.
The terms of reference relate not just to arms questions but to decisions taken on the prosecution of companies and on public interest immunity.
All Ministers who are called will give evidence.
All civil servants who are called will be instructed to co-operate.
All papers that the inquiry calls for will be made available.
Lord Justice Scott will be entirely free to decide on the publication of his report and of the evidence he takes.
If Lord Justice Scott finds that his powers are in any way insufficient, he can invite the Government to alter the basis of his inquiry and the Government would agree to do so.
The inquiry will report to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.