§ Baroness Coxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the goods which were given Standard Individual Export Licences for Sudan were in contravention of the European Union arms embargo on Sudan; and [HL3795]
Whether they will not allow any further export of goods on the military list to Sudan until there is peace. [HL3796]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)We believe that the EU arms embargo on arms, munitions and military equipment in relation to Sudan should remain in place as long as the civil war continues. The UK fully implements and enforces this embargo. We have taken a national decision to interpret the embargo as covering all items on the Military List.
In 1999, we exceptionally approved the export to Sudan of three ex-MoD Bedford trucks which had been stripped and painted white. These were for the use of humanitarian agencies operating in southern Sudan for the delivery of food and other assistance to help alleviate the suffering of which we are all aware. This decision in no way affects our commitment to full implementation and enforcement of the EU embargo.
The exports were announced to Parliament in a reply I gave to the noble Baroness, Lady Massey, on 2 December 1999, (Official Report, col. WA 65); and in a letter which my honourable friend the Minister of State, Peter Hain, wrote to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on 11 August 1999.