HC Deb 26 April 1995 vol 258 c576W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what Government or training and enterprise council support has been provided in the last five years to companies that produced equipment used for purposes of torture. [20286]

Mr. Eggar

My Department has not knowingly supported companies which produce equipment intended for the purpose of torture.

Questions on TEC support should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the value of the trade in British torture equipment. [20296]

Mr. Ian Taylor

I know of no such trade. Export licences would not be granted for licensable goods if there were good reasons to suppose that they would be used for the purposes of torture.