HC Deb 11 June 2002 vol 386 cc1156-7W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what licences have been granted for equipment on the military list to(a) Georgia, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) Kyrgyzstan, (d) Tajikistan, (e) Turkey, (f) Bahrain, (k) Oman, (l) Jordan and (m) Yemen in each month since September 2001, including military list and dual-use ratings; what equipment is covered under these licences; and if she will make a statement. [60626]

Nigel Griffiths

The number of Standard Individual Licences (SIELs) covering items on the military and dual-use lists issued to end users in Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, the Philippines, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Yemen in each month since September 2001 is set out in the tables that I have placed in the Libraries of the House today. Individual licences might cover a range of items with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the tables in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

The summary description of the items covered by these ratings will be published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which will be available in the Libraries of the House. In addition some of the countries are permitted destinations on certain Open General Export Licences, copies of which are also placed in the Libraries of the House. All relevant export licence applications are considered very carefully on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. The criteria include a specific reference to the behaviour of the buyer country with regard to the international community, as regards in particular to its attitude to terrorism, the nature of its alliances and respect for international law.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to improve the process for granting arms export licences. [60240]

Nigel Griffiths

The Government recognise that the system for processing export licence applications requires continuous improvement if we are to deliver a more efficient and effective export licensing system, which is both accountable and transparent.

The Export Control Organisation (ECO) has introduced a number of initiatives to improve the risk assessment and to reduce the time taken to process individual export licence applications. These include the roll out of new enhanced IT systems that will allow exporters to submit applications for a Standard Individual Export Licence over the internet.

Tony Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking about reports that UK arms dealers are offering prospective brokers means of circumventing licensing requirements; and if she will make a statement. [59662]

Nigel Griffiths

The Government and the UK enforcement authorities take very seriously reports of any breaches of UK export licensing requirements.

I understand that the police and HM Customs and Excise are investigating the case which was recently reported.