HC Deb 11 December 1997 vol 302 cc670-1W
Ann Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for arms export licences to Turkey(a) are currently pending with her Department, (b) have been approved since 1 May, listing type and amount of equipment and the companies involved, and (c) have been refused since 1 May, listing the type and amount of equipment and the companies involved. [14826]

Mrs. Roche

The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated, and the following results were obtained.

Between 2 May and 5 November inclusive, decisions were taken on 73 applications for standard or open individual licences to export to Turkey goods controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 (the so-called "Military List"); 71 standard individual export licences were granted, and one application for such a licence refused; and one open individual export licence was issued. At 5 November, 105 applications were awaiting a decision.

Ann Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade pursuant to her answer of 21 July 1997,Official Report, column 450, what steps she is taking to ensure that equipment which should be classified under a specific Export of Goods (Control) Order category but may be exported as part of a larger export order that would be classified under a different Export of Goods (Control) Order category is recorded. [20033]

Mrs. Roche

As from 23 September this year all goods on new export licence applications have been assessed against the current legislation and the appropriate export control categories recorded, both on paper and on the computer databases. The Export Control Organisation is retrospectively carrying this out for all applications on which a decision has been taken since 2 May.

Ann Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) pursuant to her answer of 15 July 1997,Official Report, column 134, if she will provide details of the four open general export licences referred to in her reply; which goods are allowed for export under these licences; which destinations are covered by these licences; and which United Kingdom exporters have registered to use these licences; [20038]

(2) pursuant to her answer of 15 July 1997, Official Report, column 132, on open general export licences, what export categories the 21 OGELs cover and for which countries of destination; and if she will list the companies registered for the 14 OGELs which require registration. [20053]

Mrs. Roche

Further to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Letwin) on 2 December 1997,Official Report, columns 124–26, copies of all current Open General Export Licences are being placed in the libraries of the House today. The goods and country coverage are specified in each licence.

The inquiries that would be necessary as regards the release of the identity of the companies registered to use these licences could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.