Mrs. ClywdTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what occasions(a) Security Defence Marketing Services and (b) Compass Safety International have (i) requested and (ii) been granted an export or transhipment licence with regard to electro-shock batons.[23026]
§ Mr. OppenheimIt has been the practice of successive Administration not to reveal details of applications for export licences or export licences. However, in view of the current public interest in the matter, I am prepared, by way of exception, to confirm that, from 1991, the point from which records are readily available, there were no such occasions.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1996,Official Report, column 716, what was the country of origin and receipt for the 1993 licence for the transhipment of electronic batons. [23028]
§ Mr. OppenheimI refer the hon. Member to the Minister for Science and Technology's letter to her of 307W 3 August 1995 in response to her question tabled on 17 July 1995. For the reason given in that letter, I am not prepared to release any further details about this matter.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent human rights considerations were taken into account before the granting of transhipment licences for electro-shock equipment in 1993. [23027]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe same consideration was given to this application as applies to all others.