HC Deb 18 January 1995 vol 252 cc558-9W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the Ministers in his Department who have had responsibilities in respect of the sale of arms to Iraq.

Mr. Heseltine

As President of the Board of Trade, have responsibility for export licensing, to Iraq or anywhere else. This responsibility has been exercised by Governments prior to this Administration.

Since May 1979, the Presidents of the Board of Trade and Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry have been:

  • Right hon. Sir John Nott
  • Right hon. John Biffen Mp
  • Right hon. Lord Cockfield
  • Right hon. Lord Parkinson
  • Right hon. Lord Tebbit
  • Right hon. Sir Leon Brittan
  • Right hon. Paul Channon MP
  • Right hon. Lord Young
  • Right hon. Lord Ridley
  • Right hon. Peter Lilley MP
  • Right hon. Michael Heseltine MP

Since May 1979 the Ministers for Trade have been:

  • Right hon. Lord Parkinson
  • Right hon. Lord Rees
  • Right hon. Paul Channon MP
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  • Right hon. Alan Clark
  • Right hon. Lord Trefgame
  • Right hon. Sir Timothy Sainsbury MP
  • Right hon. Richard Needham MP

The following Ministers have also held certain responsibilities for trade matters:

  • Right hon. Kenneth Clarke MP
  • Right hon. Tony Newton MP
  • Edward Leigh MP
  • Ian Taylor MP

It is not practical to determine which of these Ministers may have considered export licences for arms to Iraq.