§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether armoured water cannon are treated as "conventional arms" within the meaning of the Principles Governing Conventional Arms Transfers agreed by the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in November 1993; whether the export of these devices is subject to any government control; whether they consider that these devices, are likely to be used for the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Indonesia; whether they arc likely to be used for the purpose of oppression in Indonesia; and to which other countries armoured water cannon have been sold.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyArmoured water cannon are controlled under heading ML6 and PL5001 of the Military List of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994. As such, we would consider any application to export them in accordance with the Principles Governing Conventional Arms Transfers agreed by the then Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe and the other international guidelines to which the Government are committed. All export licence applications to all destinations, including Indonesia, are considered in the light of internationally agreed guidelines. Under these criteria, we take into account,inter alia, the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the recipient country. We do not issue licences for the export of any equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.
I shall write to the noble Lord shortly in answer to his question on other countries to which armoured water cannon have been sold, taking into account the Answer by the noble Lord, the Under-Secretary of State for Defence. (col. WA 109–111, 23rd July).