Export Control (Hansard, 24 November 1992)

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the criteria he adopts in deciding whether to investigate media allegations of violations of export control regulations and end-user certificate commitments.

§ Mr. Needham
Inquiries following allegations of breaches or attempted breaches of export restrictions are matters for the commissioners of Customs and Excise.

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution ministers or officials of his Department will make to the forthcoming seminar to be held by the Export Control Organisation on a practical guide to United Kingdom export controls.
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§ Mr. Needham
The seminar will be chaired by an official from the Export Control Organisation (ECO) of the DTI. Others from the ECO will make presentations on export control matters and will participate in workshops on specific aspects of export licensing procedures.

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make it his practice to report to Parliament on the details of individual export licence applications.

§ 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, pages 37 to 106.