HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 cc614-5W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the companies to which export licences were granted for the export of electronic batons in the last five years; what assistance his Department is giving to British firms selling security and paramilitary products to Peru, Colombia and other countries in south America in 1995; and if British Aerospace was assisted in the sale of electro-shock batons to Saudi Arabia in the mid-1980s.

Mr. Needham

The first part of this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost. British firms selling to south American countries are eligible for the DTI's range of export services, but it is not possible to isolate those operating in the general areas identified. British Aerospace has denied both publicly and to my officials that electro-batons have been supplied by the company to Saudi Arabia.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for further regulating the sale of equipment which can be used for and has been designed for use against persons in repressive conditions.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: I have no such proposals.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what evidence he has received that Hiatts equipment, manufactured in the United Kingdom, restricting body movements has been sold by United Kingdom companies and used by countries in the middle east;

(2) what evidence the Government have that oversize handcuffs manufactured in Birmingham by Hiatts and modified at a later stage have been used in conditions of torture.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answers 24 January 1995]: I am aware of the allegations made in the Channel 4 television programme "Dispatches", screened on 11 January. Hiatts of Birmingham has denied such practices, both publicly and to my officials.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to promote legislation for the regulation of the co-ordinated purchase of sensitive military equipment throughout the world by United Kingdom registered companies.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: No.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions Ministers and civil servants have visited the covert and operational procurement exhibition, held annually in Esher, Surrey.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: Officials from my Department have visited the COPEX exhibition although precise figures on the number of visits are not available.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total annual value of exports which can be used as shackles and leg restraints.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: There is a wide variety of equipment that could theoretically be used as shackles and leg restraints and it is not possible to answer the question as posed. My Department would not issue export licences for leg-irons.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions officials from his Department met that person calling himself John Clarkson or that person calling himself Frank Davies to discuss matters relating to defence equipment exports.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: The persons referred to in this question are fictitious names used by journalists appearing on the Channel 4 "Dispatches" programme on 11 January 1995. The makers of the programme did not contact my Department before transmission and a statement was provided.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions he has acted to prevent the export of equipment that can be used in torture in each of the last 18 months.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: None. I have not received any information about any such proposed exports.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions representatives of his Department have met representatives of IPS and CAZ in the last five years.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: It is not possible to answer this question on the information provided.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial support was given to Mr. Frank Scott to enable him to visit the far east for the purpose of selling electro-shock equipment.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: There is no evidence of ICL Technical Plastics Ltd., or Mr. Frank Stott of that company, receiving financial support for this purpose.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the British Overseas Trade Board has used public money to subsidise covert and operational procurement exhibitions related exhibitions overseas in each of the last five years.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: Over the last five years contributions towards exhibitors' costs have been made under the DTI's trade fairs support scheme in respect of six COPEX exhibitions in the United States of America.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions in the last 10 years trade and investment representations of SAS have met officials or Ministers from his Department.

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 24 January 1995]: It is not possible to answer this question on the information provided.