Sudan: Supply of Trucks to Church Ecumenical Action

HL Deb 29 July 1998 vol 592 c201WA

Lord Prys-Davies

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have approved an export licence for the supply of two Bedford Trucks to Church Ecumenical Action in Sudan (CEAS). [HL3158]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Government recently approved the export of two Bedford trucks to CEAS to help with the distribution of humanitarian aid in southern Sudan. While the trucks were once owned by the MoD, they have been stripped of all military hardware and painted white. They will now be used to help ease the terrible crisis in southern Sudan of which we are all aware. We were therefore glad to be able to approve this export as an exception to our interpretation of the EU arms embargo on Sudan. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU common position on arms exports to Sudan.