§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the benefit to the UK was from the sale of naval equipment and platforms in each year since 1997. [35722]
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§ Dr. MoonieInformation in the Ministry of Defence publication UK Defence Statistics 2001 at Table 1.13 shows that for each of the years since 1997, the value of export orders in the sea sector was as follows:
Year Total (£ million) 1997 368 1998 738 1999 148 2000 475 In addition to the economic benefits from the sale of naval equipment and platforms, the Government's policy of supporting legitimate defence exports contributes to our wider defence and international security interests, including by reducing the costs of Royal Navy procurement. Defence exports help support a strong defence industry and contribute to the security of our friends and allies overseas.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many warships and submarines have been sold to foreign states since 1997; what type they were; and which states bought them. [35720]
§ Dr. MoonieInformation relating to defence exports in categories published in the UN Nations Conventional Arms Register (UNCAR) and exports of surplus Government defence equipment is set out in Part III of the Government's annual report on Strategic Export Controls. Details of individual exports of new equipment, other than those in UNCAR categories and small arms, are not published for reasons of commercial and customer confidentiality. A summary of information taken from the annual reports on Strategic Export Controls published since 1997 is set out in the table.
Exports of naval vessels and submarines 1997–2000 Country 1997 One type 22 frigate Brazil Four (56 m) Barzan fast strike craft Qatar 1998 Four River Class minesweepers Brazil 1999 Two LEKIU frigates Malaysia 2000 One Upholder submarine Canada In addition to those transfers recorded in the Government's annual reports, three Royal Navy Peacock class patrol craft previously based in Hong Kong were transferred direct to the Philippines in 1997, and a refurbished ex Royal Navy Hunt class mine counter measure vessel was transferred to Greece in 2000 under a commercial arrangement with Vosper Thorneycroft UK Ltd.