§ 34. Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of people presently involved in the issue of licences relating to the Export of Goods (Control) Order governing the export of high technology electronic items; whether he has any plans to increase these; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonSeventeen people are currently employed full-time in the issue of export licences for 167W electronic goods. Staffing levels are kept under regular review and adjustments are made as necessary to take account of changes in work load.
§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Her Majesty's Government, via Customs and Excise or otherwise, supply information to the United States Government concerning exports of high technology products incorporating United States components or expertise by British companies from Great Britain with British export licences but for which no United States export licence under the extra-territorial provisions of the Export Administration Act has been obtained.
§ Mr. HayhoeI have been asked to reply.
Information is exchanged between the customs authorities of the COCOM countries in cases where there is suspicion of an actual or potential breach of these multilaterally agreed strategic export controls. These arrangements include cases where goods have been exported from the United Kingdom with a valid United Kingdom export licence but subsequently appear to have been diverted to a proscribed destination. The licensing status of the goods or components under United States legislation is not a matter which Customs and Excise would take into account.