HC Deb 05 March 1998 vol 307 cc744-5W
Mr. Derek Twigg

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been issued since 2 May 1997 for the export to Iraq of formulated complex growth media; what quantities of this product were covered by each licence; what was the stated end-use in each case; and whether all of the licences were notified to the UN Sanctions Committee and UNSCOM. [33470]

Mrs. Beckett

Since 2 May 1998, the UK has issued eight licences covering the export of formulated complex growth medium to Iraq. In each case, in accordance with our obligations under UN Security Council resolution 661, the Government confirmed that the applications were to export supplies strictly for medical purposes; notified the UN Sanctions Committee; and, in accordance with the Import and Export (IMPEX) Mechanism established under Security Council Resolution 1051, notified the UNSCOM/IAEA joint unit. The IMPEX mechanism covers specified goods with the potential for use in weapons of mass destruction and in their development, and provides for monitoring of their use in Iraq by the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM).

For five licences, the consignees were UN agencies. For the three other licences, the exports were specifically authorised by the UN Sanctions Committee under the "Oil for food" programme based on UN Security Council resolution 986 and successor resolutions.

Licences issued since 2 May 1997 for the export of formulated complex growth media to Iraq
Date of issue Quantity Consignee Stated end-use
7 May 1997 10kg World Health Organisation (WHO) WHO tuberculosis control project
0.5 litre
21 May1997 10kg WHO WHO nutrition research project
21 July 19971 1670.7kg Iraqi State Co for Marketing Drugs and Medical Appliances Hospital laboratories under the UN "Oil for Food" Programme
09 October 1997 27kg UNICEF UNICEF urban and semi-urban water project
14 October 1997 14 litres Iraqi State Co for Marketing Drugs and Medical Appliances Hospital laboratories under the UN "Oil for Food" Programme
11 November 1997 3 litres International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) IAEA rinderpest surveillance project
28 January 1998 40kg WHO WHO primary healthcare project
30 January 1998 40kg Iraqi Sate Co for Marketing Drugs and Medical Appliances Hospital laboratories under the UN "Oil for Food" Programme
1 This licence expired before the goods concerned were exported, and a new licence with the same coverage and for the same end-use was issued is December 1997.