§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what defence exports to(a) Malaysia, (b) Thailand, (c) Indonesia and (d) Singapore have been from ECGD cover in each of the last five years; what were the terms of the guarantees; what was the equipment for; and if he will make a statement. [27173]
§ Mrs. BeckettI have been asked to reply.
841WThe Value of ECGD cover provided in support of defence business with the named markets in each of the last five years was as follows:
£million Malaysia Thailand Indonesia Singapore 1992–93 436 0 399 0 1993–94 25 0 8 69 1994–95 0 22 114 0 1995–96 0 0 419 28 1996–97 0 0 143 0 1997–981 0 25 1 0 1 to 31 December The guarantees were all on cash terms except in the case of business with Indonesia for which five years credit was supported.
In all cases the equipment was for the use of the armed forces of the named countries.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies he proposes to implement to make the Government's arms policy more transparent and accountable; what external advice he has received; and if he will make a statement. [27882]
§ Mr. Tony LloydMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 28 July new criteria to be used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional weapons. At the same time, he committed the Government to report annually on the state of strategic export controls and their applications, so as to ensure full transparency and accountability to Parliament. Work is in hand to implement this commitment and an announcement will be made in due course. The work has not involved any formal external advice.