§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the enforcement of COCOM rules to take account of the internal market in 1992.
§ Mr. Alan Clark[holding answer 13 April 1989]: Her Majesty's Government expect to see a considerable reduction in export controls well in advance of 1992, which should encourage the freer movement of goods within the European Community. We are examining the most effective means of streamlining our export controls procedures to achieve this, consistent with the need to continue to safeguard the national interest. This will not directly affect the work of the Co-ordinating Committee (COCOM) which is concerned with strategic export controls on trade with the eastern bloc and the People's Republic of China.
§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on(a) the progress on discussions to reduce the COCOM, and its period of rotating review and (b) the procedures for enforcement.
§ Mr. Alan Clark[holding answer 13 April 1989]: Her Majesty's Government recognise the vital need to shorten the COCOM control lists to ensure that controls are effective and the support of industry is retained. We are vigorously seeking ways, together with our COCOM partners, to streamline the lists both through the continuous list review procedure, which examines one quarter of the lists each year, and through one-off exercises. Some progress has been achieved, and in 1988, 17 items were partially or wholly removed from the lists and 57 items reduced to lower levels of control. It is difficult in practice to achieve a rapid reduction in the lists, given the requirement for unanimity within COCOM and the need for a strategic re-assessment of any items it is proposed to remove.
We are discussing with our COCOM partners ways of achieving more rapid progress.