HC Deb 08 March 1996 vol 273 c386W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he possesses on the role of(a) Apremont S.A. Company of Panama, (b) Muiden Chemie Company of the Netherlands, (c) GEA Company, Remie Ltd. and Erber Ltd. of Italy, (d) SPEL Company of Portugal and (e) Banco Nazionale del Lavoro in facilitating the export of United Kingdom-origin military equipment to Iraq since 1985. [18535]

Mr. Lang

Muiden Chemie Company of the Netherlands and SPEL company of Portugal feature in chapter E7 of Sir Richard Scott's report. There is also a reference to the Atlanta, Georgia branch of the Banco Nazionale del Lavoro in paragraph A1.3 of the report. I understand that Sir Richard Scott intends to publish shortly on CD-ROM as many of the source documents for report as he considers necessary.

So far as can be ascertained my Department has no further information concerning the role of the companies mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's question in facilitating the export of United Kingdom origin military equipment to Iraq.

If the hon. Gentleman has any additional information suggesting that a breach of UK export controls has been committed, he should inform HM Customs.