HC Deb 22 December 1997 vol 303 cc510-3W
Ann Clwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) pursuant to her answer of 24 July 1997,Official Report, column 330, if she will list the 59 applications for licences for the export of goods controlled under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order, listing those licences which (a) have been granted, (b) have been refused and (c) are still pending and the categories of equipment or services that they cover; [20037]

(2) pursuant to her answer of 2 December 1997, Official Report, column 124, if she will list the (a) companies which have been licensed and (b) equipment involved, in the 22 licences which her Department has approved; how many applications for licences to export arms to Indonesia remain for decision; and when she expects decisions to be made. [20009]

Mrs. Roche

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) on 2 December 1997,Official Report, columns 124–26. The provision of services to Indonesia is not controlled.

As regards the disclosure of the identity of the licensees and details of the goods concerned, inquiries are being made under the non-statutory Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Since confidential information is involved, the consent of the licensees is being sought for its disclosure. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House. At 13 November 1997, 65 applications to export to Indonesia goods controlled under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order (the so-called "Military List") were awaiting a decision: 25 applications for a standard individual export licence and 40 for an Open Individual Export Licence. The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as the goods' rating.

Applications for standard individual licences to export to Indonesia goods on the Military List awaiting a decision at 13 November
Rating Number of applications covering goods with this rating
ML1 6
ML2 1
ML3 3
ML5 2
ML6 2
ML7 1
ML9 2
ML10 1
ML11 5
ML13 1
ML14 2
ML15 2
Applications for open individual licences to export to Indonesia goods on the Military List awaiting a decision at 13 November1
Rating Number of applications covering goods with this rating
ML1 1
ML2 2
ML3 3
ML4 2
ML5 2
ML6 1
ML7 1
ML8 3
ML9 7
ML10 11
ML11 9
ML13 2
ML15 2
ML21 1
1 OIELs often cover a range of countries as well as a range of goods, controlled under several entries in the legislation. Where this is so the OIEL is included in the table in the total shown against each of the relevant countries and ratings.

However, this information should be considered in light of my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), on 30 October 1997, Official Report columns 870–71.

As stated in the Export Control Organisation's Code of Practice, when applicants have submitted all of the necessary documentation, the aim is to give a substantive response within 20 working days when other Government Departments have to be consulted and 10 working days when such consultation is not necessary.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the arms for which licences for export to(a) Turkey, (b) India, (c) Pakistan, (d) Algeria, (e) Angola, (f) Nigeria, (g) Syria, (h) Egypt, (i) Kenya, (j) Ethiopia and (k) Eritrea have been granted since 1 May. [20994]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 18 December 1997]: The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows: between 2 May and 21 November, eight Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued to export goods controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule I to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 (the so-called "Military List") to one or more of the specified countries. The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating.

Open Individual Export Licences issued covering goods on the Military List between 2 May and 21 November1
Rating
ML5 ML9 ML10 ML11
Turkey 1 0 0 0
India 0 2 2 0
Pakistan 0 1 0 0
Algeria 0 0 0 0
Angola 0 0 0 0
Nigeria 0 0 0 0
Syria 0 0 0 0
Egypt 1 0 0 1
Kenya 0 0 1 0
Ethiopia 0 0 0 0
Eritrea 0 0 0 0
1 OIELs often cover a range of countries as well as a range of goods, controlled under several entries in the legislation. Where this is so the OIEL is included in the table in the total shown against each of the relevant countries and ratings. In addition, one Open Individual Export Licence was issued for the export to any destination of certain goods for use by specified persons working in the media.

However, this information should be considered in light of the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

I will write to the hon. and learned Member as soon as possible with respect to the information requested about standard individual export licences and place a copy of that letter in the library.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the arms for which licences for export to(a) Turkey, (b) India, (c) Pakistan, (d) Algeria, (e) Angola, (f), Nigeria, (g) Syria, (h) Egypt, (i) Kenya, (j) Ethiopia and (k) Eritrea have been denied since 1 May, indicating the grounds for refusal in each case. [20995]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 18 December 1997]: The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows.

Between 2 May and 21 November, five applications were refused for standard individual licences to export goods controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule I to the Export of Goods (control) Order 1994 (the so-called "Military List") to one or more of the specified countries. The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating.

Applications refused for standard individual export licences covering goods on the Military List between 2 May and 21 November
Rating
ML1 ML3 ML6 ML7 ML11
Turkey 1 0 0 0 0
India 0 0 0 0 0
Pakistan 0 1 0 0 0
Algeria 0 0 0 0 0
Angola 0 0 0 0 0
Nigeria 0 0 1 0 1
Syria 0 0 0 0 0
Egypt 0 0 0 0 0
Kenya 0 0 0 1 0
Ethiopia 0 0 0 0 0
Eritrea 0 0 0 0 0

No Application for open individual licences to export such goods to these countries were refused in the period.

However, this information should be considered in the light of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley, (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

The decision to refuse the applications listed above were made after careful consideration of each case against the criteria announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29.