§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his current assessment of the contribution that British firms made in supplying materials that were used by Iraq to detonate nuclear initiators.
§ Mr. Lilley[holding answer 13 November 1991]: We have not received full details of information obtained during the inspections in Iraq carried out by the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
I am, therefore, not yet able to assess whether any British firms supplied materials used by Iraq to detonate nuclear initiators.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will detail the breaches of the arms embargo with Iraq now known to his Department.
§ Mr. Lilley[holding answer 11 November 1991]: Inspections in Iraq by the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency have revealed the names of many companies, around the world, which have traded with Iraq, including some from Britain. It is possible that more names will be revealed as time goes on.
38WThe information provided by these agencies is being carefully reviewed, but there is no evidence that the vast majority of the United Kingdom companies that have already been named have done anything wrong. Until the invasion of Kuwait, trade with Iraq was not illegal provided strategic export controls were not breached.
Prosecutions for offences under the Export of Goods (Control) Order are a matter for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on current cases.