§ Mr. CohenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the expenditure from the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the current financial year due to non-payment by Iraqi authorities; and what proportion of these funds relates to exports of military-related equipment. [18116]
§ Mr. NeedhamThe ECGD paid £46 million in 1994–95 in respect of claims on business supported in Iraq. The ECGD's current exposure on Iraq is estimated at £652 million, of which £596 million relates to un-recovered claims payments. These figures are provisional pending publication of the ECGD's trading accounts.
Over the period 1985–1990, the ECGD supported about £52 million for exports with potential defence applications. The ECGD's information systems, which reflect the Department's business needs, do not provide a sectoral analysis of claims payments. Extracting the data with reasonable accuracy would involve disproportionate expense.
§ Ms LestorTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that the Export Credits Guarantee Department will not be called on to provide additional export credits to Balfour Beatty and Cementation to cover increases in the cost of the Pergau dam. [18686]
§ Mr. NeedhamNo approach has been made to the ECGD to provide additional export credits for the Pergau dam project. Any such approach would be considered in the light of the circumstances involved and the ECGD's normal policies and practice.