§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps are being taken to prohibit the export of centrifuge components or centrifuges with uranium enrichment capacity to Pakistan; and whether he is satisfied with his existing Export of Goods Control Order 136/1979 on shipments abroad of high frequency electrical control equipment.
§ Mr. Parkinson, pursuant to his reply, [Official Report, 27 June 1979], gave the following answer:
Under the provisions of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1978 (as amended) gas centrifuges capable of the enrichment or separation of isotopes and specially designed parts components and equipment therefore may not be exported without a licence. Similar controls were applied by SI 1979/136 to parts, components and sub-assemblies of frequency changers capable of multi-phase electrical output of between 600–2,000 Hz.
Applications for licences to export these goods to Pakistan or to any other destination are given the most careful consideration. The working of the controls is under constant review and will be extended if the need arises.