HC Deb 18 February 1992 vol 204 cc144-6W
Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of British arms exports are sold to(a) third world countries and (b) to the middle east countries; how those proportions have varied in the past few years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991, volume 2, table 2.7.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the Gulf war has had on his Department's monitoring of the export of weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

All export licence applications for the export of weapons to any destination have always been subject to the most rigorous scrutiny.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department has on the proportion of world trade in arms sold to(i) third world countries and (ii) middle east countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

The proportion of world trade in arms sold to third world countries is 35 per cent. and to middle east countries 42 per cent. These figures represent an average based on 1986 to 1990 data.