§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Turkish Government to ensure that no arms given to Turkey by NATO are being used in the attacks now taking place against Kurdish safe havens in northern Iraq. [17234]
§ Mr. David DavisNone in this context. Proposed United Kingdom arms sales to Turkey, as to other countries, are considered on a case-by-case basis and are subject to stringent licensing procedures. In particular, we do not grant licences for the sale of equipment which we believe is likely to be used for internal repression.
§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what equipment Her Majesty's Government consider is covered by its ban on arms sales to China.
§ Mr. GoodladSince 7 June 1989 the United Kingdom has enforced an embargo on the sale to China of
weapons, and equipment which could be used for internal repression".The EU introduced a ban on arms sales to China on 26 June 1989 but the scope of that ban has, in the absence of agreement on a common interpretations, been left for national interpretation. In the interests of clarity we have decided that henceforward the embargo will include: 843W
- lethal weapons such as machine guns, large calibre weapons, bombs, torpedoes, rockets and missiles;
- specially designed components of the above, and ammunition;
- military aircraft and helicopters, vessels of war, armoured fighting vehicles and other such weapons platforms;
- any equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.
All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis in the light of these criteria as well as our usual criteria governing all defence exports.