§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if(a) Williams Holdings, (b) Leyland Trucks and (c) RB International have been issued with a communication licence to visit Iraq; and for what purpose.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorIt has been the policy of successive administrations not to comment on individual licence applications unless public interest outweighs the need for commercial confidentiality.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many export licences have been given to British firms to export to Iraq since sanctions began;
(2) how many export licences for export to Iraq have been refused since sanctions began.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe export control organisation within my Department issues licences for exports to Iraq within the procedures laid down by the UN sanctions committee. Licences may be granted for exports of foodstuffs, medicines and other goods deemed to be essential for humanitarian civilian needs.
As at 21 February 1995, a total of 791 applications for export licences to Iraq have been refused to British firms and a total of 2,370 applications for export licences to Iraq had been granted to British firms since August 1990. This computer-generated figure cannot be confirmed without disproportionate cost.