§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers she has to enforce the conditions contained in end-user control certificates; and what action she can take in case of breach of those conditions. [138618]
§ Mr. MacShaneI have been asked to reply.
The Government refuses export licences where there is a clear risk that the goods will be used in contravention of the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.
The Government has no legal power to enforce conditions contained in end-user certificates. We would, however, take any misuse of equipment into account when assessing future export licence applications for the end-users in question. In addition, the Government has the power to revoke licences for exports to purchasers of concern, which would prevent any outstanding arms exports to that purchaser from leaving the United Kingdom. It could also cancel any open licences for exports to that destination country, obliging exporters to apply for individual licences for each export, or refuse to accept any assurances given by a country about the end-use of an export.
We may liase with the Government in the country concerned, encouraging them to control or sanction the purchasers in question. If the end-user were a Government, we would have a wide range of foreign policy tools at our disposal.