HC Deb 07 February 1994 vol 237 cc13-4W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries currently subject to embargoes on the export of British military equipment, when in each case the embargo was imposed and which equipment is covered.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We observe embargoes imposed by the United Nations on Iraq, imposed in 1991; Libya, 1992; Somalia, 1993; Liberia, 1992; Haiti, 1993; South Africa, 1977; and former Yugoslavia, 1991. The scope of United Nations embargoes is not defined; decisions on their application are made at national discretion on a case-by-case basis. We apply all these embargoes to all military equipment.

We also observe embargoes imposed by the European Union on China, 1989; Syria, 1986; Burma, 1991; and Zaire, 1993. We apply the embargoes on Burma, Zaire and Syria to all military equipment. We apply the embargo on China to weapons and any equipment which could be used for internal repression.

We also observe a voluntary embargo agreed by the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe on Armenia and Azerbaijan, 1992, which we consider applies to all military equipment.

In addition, as a matter of declared national policy we refuse to supply military equipment to Argentina, since 1982,and to Israel, since 1982—in the case of Israel, we decided in 1983 to allow the export of electronic and small non-lethal components provided they did not form part of equipment due to be put into service with the Israeli armed forces in Lebanon.

In the case of Iran, there have been restrictions since 1979. Stricter guidelines were introduced in 1984 relating to the export of all defence-related equipment. Following a review of export licensing criteria for Iran announced by the President of the Board of Trade in December 1992, new guidelines were announced to Parliament in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs' statement of 1 March 1993.

In the case of the United Nations embargoes on Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Liberia, Haiti and the former Yugoslavia, the Government have introduced Orders in Council under the United Nations Act 1946. In all other cases, controls are effected under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992, and its predecessors.

Export licences have been issued in respect of equipment for United Nations and EC peacekeeping activities and for the protection of those undertaking humanitarian and media work, for example, journalists in former Yugoslavia.