Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart regarding the export of equipment to Iraq by the firm Terex.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkNone.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of the Iraqi Government to convert civil equipment into Scud missile launchers.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonScud launcher production is subject to United Nations monitoring under Security Council resolution 687, which calls for both the elimination of launchers themselves and of the associated production capability. Although Iraq assembled fixed and mobile launchers for its longer range Scud missiles before the Gulf conflict, it would face some difficulty in converting civil equipment to this purpose. Such equipment would need to be of correct specification which may not be readily available in Iraq and which would be hard to obtain under the current United Nations economic sanctions.
156W
Coal and other solid fuels Crude oil Petroleum products Natural gas Electricity Total £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million Imports (f.o.b.) n/a 3,698 n/a n/a n/a 7,064 Exports (f.o.b.) 98 4,440 2,630 — — 7,168 Net exports (f.o.b.) n/a 742 n/a n/a n/a 104
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the military significance of equipment exported to Iraq by the firm Terex; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkMy Department has noted recent allegations in the press and is looking into the matter together with the Department of Trade and Industry. But I am not at present aware of any exports of military equipment to Iraq by Terex.