HC Deb 27 April 1990 vol 171 cc352-3W
Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when his Department saw the contract involving Sheffield Forgemasters for the Iraqi order;

(2) what special checks were made of the 44 items of piping now sent to Iraq;

(3) how many approaches were made to his Department by Walter Somers querying the Iraqi order for equipment;

(4)what action was taken after the report of Walter Somers that they had been approached about aiming equipment in the Iraqi supergun order;

(5) what specifications of the Iraqi export order were given to his Department.

Mr. Ridley

In the light of charges laid against an individual on 25 April, and in the light of the continuing investigation by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information.

Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the day on which his Department was first made aware that Iraq was acquiring export material for a major gun or launcher;

(2) what information he has on non-military research done by the Space Research Corporation;

(3) when he was made aware of changes in the specifications of the steel for the Iraq order placed with Walter Somers;

(4) if he will make a statement on the involvement of the Advanced Technology Institute in the Iraqi gun order.

Mr. Ridley

[holding answer 26 April 1990]: In the light of charges laid against an individual on 25 April, and in the light of the continuing investigation by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are now being taken by his Department to check on the items being manufactured in the United Kingdom for export to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the technical specifications of the steel ordered for the pipes intended for Iraq that were the subject of correspondence between his Department and Sheffield Forgemasters in July 1988.

Mr. Ridley

[holding answers 24 April 1990]: In the light of charges laid against an individual on 25 April, and in the light of the continuing investigation by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to which overall contracts the gun components for Iraq were part of; and whether any such contracts were promoted by his Department through the British Overseas Trade Board export intelligence service.

Mr. Ridley

[holding answers 23 April 1990]: In the light of charges laid against an individual on 25 April, and in the light of the continuing investigation by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information.