§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many visits the Export Control Organisation's Compliance Unit made to exporters to examine records held with regard to open individuals export licences in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999, indicating the number of visits to each exporter. [146654]
§ Dr. HowellsThe number of visits made by the Export Control Organisation's Compliance Unit are set out in the table:
Year Number of compliance visits 1997 371 1998 388 1999 477 The totals include visits to a small proportion of exporters who do not hold Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs), but are required to keep records as part of their usage of Open General Export Licences (OGELs).
654WInformation regarding the number of visits made to each exporter is not easily accessible and it would, therefore, entail disproportionate cost to establish the number of visits made to each company.
The Export Control Organisation's Compliance Unit visits exporters who hold Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) on a regular basis. Where the exporter holds a licence for military list and certain dual-use goods it is normal practice to undertake such a visit yearly. For holders of licences for other dual-use goods, visits would normally take place every second year.