§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 29 June (WA 100), whether they accept that delays in the processing of applications for the export of essential medical equipment to Iraq by recognised charities have occurred, and are still occurring, regardless of United Nations sanctions. [HL3535]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThis Government recognise the problems that delays in the processing of export licence applications can cause. We aim to give applicants a decision as quickly as is consistent with the need for careful assessment.
The export of medical equipment to Iraq must be either authorised by, or notified to (depending on the nature of the goods involved), the United Nations Sanctions Committee.
In the case of medical equipment there may be lengthy lists of medicines that need to be checked. If these medicines take the form of vaccines they may also be covered by the Import and Export (ImpEx) mechanism established under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1051. This mechanism requires certain goods, as specified in an agreed list, to be subject to special controls, including the monitoring of their end use in Iraq, because they are capable of being used in weapons of mass destruction programmes.