§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will seek to renegotiate the recent COCOM agreement in the light of the legal objections raised to it under the general agreement on tariffs and trade and the treaty of Rome and in view of the recent statistics published by the United States Commerce Department of United States trade with the Soviet bloc and China in computers, semi-conductor manufacturing equipment and electronic test equipment;
(2) whether he is aware of any complaints being made under the treaty of Rome concerning the recent C'OCOM agreement; and if he will make a statement;
(3) whether he is aware of any complaints being made under the general agreement on tariffs and trade concerning the recent COCOM agreement; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Channon:I am aware that Czechoslovakia has notified COCOM's controls under the general agreement on tariffs and trade, but I am not aware that any complaint has been made under the treaty of Rome. Both the agreement and the treaty permit their signatories to control trade for reasons of national security. The COCOM lists are agreed unanimously and have just been reviewed. I see no reason to renegotiate them.
§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if the average length of time taken to grant licences under the COCOM agreement when only the British Government's approval is required has increased over the last three months;
(2) what is the average length of time taken over the last three months to grant licences under the COCOM agreement when only British Government approval is required.
§ Mr. Channon:Information on the average length of time to grant licences when only the British Government's approval is required is not readily available. I am aware that the consideration of some applications has been prolonged. The procedures are kept under regular review.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he excluded the British Computer Society from negotiations over the COCOM agreement.
§ Mr. Channon:When considering the commercial implications of the strategic embargo my Department has attached priority to consulting trade associations. But I am always ready to consider the views of interested bodies. My Department met representatives of the British Computer Society on 25 January.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why his Department's discussions with the Computer Services Association on the COCOM list were conducted under the constraints of official secrecy.
§ Mr. Channon:During the early stage of policy formulation it is sometimes necessary to consult on a confidential basis. I hope that it will be possible to consult more widely before too long.