HC Deb 13 June 1996 vol 279 cc263-4W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date Her Majesty's Government were advised that a market report partially funded through his Department's export marketing scheme would state that there was a future requirement for electric batons in a named country; what action he took in respect of that report; and what steps he has taken to ensure(a) that Her Majesty's Government does not fund such reports in the future and (b) that the contents of market reports are sanctioned before publication. [31139]

Mr. Oppenheim

[holding answer 6 June 1996]: The report was partially funded through the export marketing research scheme under the terms and conditions applicable at the time for trade associations using the scheme for the first time. The report covered six countries in the Arabian peninsula and was restricted to marketing research only.

This independent marketing research was carried out on behalf of the members of a trade association. The two lines from the 200-page report which refer to this issue solely reflect the views expressed by the authorities in the named country. The two lines are

The Special Forces are interest in procuring anti-ballistic helmets as well as electronic batons

and

The force has access to riot vehicles and body armour which was rarely used, although interest has been shown in anti-ballistic helmets and electronic batons".

The Department cannot dictate the contents of a marketing research report. Such reports are a reflection of the views of those interviewed by the researchers and the Department confers no authorisation to any of the views expressed. The Department is not notified in advance of the contents of any reports. However, a copy of the final report of projects conducted on behalf of trade associations is placed in the Department's export market information centre. Accordingly, a copy of this report was placed in the EMIC on 10 August 1994.

The UK strictly controls the export of military and paramilitary equipment. The use of the EMRS in no way subverts, circumvents or undermines this process.