§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost to the Export Credits Guarantee Department of underwriting the sales of arms to Iraq in(a) 1987–88, (b) 1988–89 and (c) 1989–90. [36613]
§ Mr. NelsonThe ECGD did not underwrite any arms exports to Iraq in these years.
However, a relatively small amount of equipment with possible defence application—in particular communications equipment—was underwritten under the so—called "Defence Allocation" under the Iraq protocols; there are currently claims outstanding of £26 million in this respect.