HC Deb 02 May 1990 vol 171 cc601-2W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made of the activities of the company TMG Engineering that relate to the actual or possible export of non-lethal defence equipment;

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the activities of the company Matrix Churchill that relate to the actual or possible export of non-lethal defence equipment;

(3) what assessment his Department has made of the activities of the company Technology and Development Group that relate to the actual or possible export of non-lethal defence equipment.

Mr. Alan Clark

My Department plays its part in assisting checks on commercial firms as appropriate. It would not be right to go into any further specific detail.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department distinguishes between lethal and non-lethal defence equipment for policy purposes.

Mr. Alan Clark

My Department interprets lethal equipment as covering military equipment designed to kill.