§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors underlay the granting of extensions to the period of validity of standard individual export and transhipment licences for transfer to Indonesia, for a period equivalent to the duration of the EU arms embargo; and what is his Department's policy towards the renewal of the embargo after 16 January 2000. [96114]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 28 October 1999]: By a Common Position, adopted on 16 September, EU member states decided to impose an arms embargo to Indonesia for four months. In accordance with this decision, the Government decided that all individual licences covering the export or transhipment to Indonesia of military goods or technology should be suspended for four months and that, because the embargo is time-limited, their period of validity should be extended by four months also. The UK and other EU member states are monitoring closely the situation in Indonesia and East Timor and will take whatever action becomes necessary.