§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry concerning a British company's involvement in the supply of equipment and training to the Sudanese for the extraction of oil in southern Sudan. [99501]
§ Mr. HainOfficials in British Trade International and the FCO keep in regular touch on the Sudan. British companies, along with many others from other European and other countries, have supplied equipment to the oil industry.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry concerning export licences to Sudan. [99504]
§ Mr. HainAny export licence applications received by the DTI concerning the Sudan are circulated to the FCO for advice. A full scope EU arms embargo is in force and is likely to remain as long as the civil war continues.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made recently to(a) the EU and (b) the UN concerning the effect of the oil fields in southern Sudan on the continuing civil war there; [99502]
(2) what discussions he has had with the EU and IGAD concerning the role of oil in the war in the Sudan. [99503]
§ Mr. HainWe keep in regular contact with the EU, the UN, and other colleagues on the situation in the Sudan; including on the impact of oil which has recently started to be exported. We are making the case strongly, including in Khartoum, that revenues should be used for development projects and that there should be transparency in accounting for the expenditure. We note that certain public assurances have been given to that effect, and look to the Government to implement them.
We expect the EU arms embargo to remain as long as war in the Sudan continues.