§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will extend the provisions of the chemical weapons legislation to make it an offence to develop a chemical weapon or to assist in the development of a chemical weapon by transferring technology to another person or countries. [5884]
§ Mr. LangNo. Under the Chemical Weapons Act 1996, it is an offence to develop a chemical weapon and individuals who participate in the development by somebody else of such a weapon by transferring technology would be guilty of the offence. The export of technology for the development of a chemical weapon is prohibited by export control legislation.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will extend the provisions of the chemical weapons legislation to other areas of weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons. [5885]
§ Mr. LangMy Department's consultative document, "Strategic Export Controls" (Cm. 3349), presented to Parliament in July, sought views on all aspects of strategic export control procedures and policy, including the possibility of new legislation. Among the specific issues raised was whether the provision in the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 creating the offence of developing a chemical weapon should be applied in relation to other forms of technology relevant to the production of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery. The consultation period closed at the end of October and the Department is currently considering the responses and follow-up action to the consultation.