HC Deb 23 November 1992 vol 214 c515W
Mr. Bennett

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to provide to Parliament such information on export licences as is provided to the inquiry conducted by Lord Justice Scott.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of all applications for export licences to Iraq in respect of machine tools, equipment and arms that were either approved or rejeted under the rules laid down by his predecessor in 1985 that were submitted by Marconi, GEC, BAC, Colchester Lathes or any subsidiary companies; and if he will make a statement about the extent of those applications from subsidiary companies over the same period.

Mr. Needham

No. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it has been the practice of successive Administrations not to disclose such information. However, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Minutes of Evidence to the Trade and Industry Select Committee, 26 November 1991, pp 37–106.