§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the procedures followed by his Department to ensure that the subsequent use of defence equipment is consistent with the Government's policy on arms sales and with export licences. [9988]
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 13 January 1997]: My Department does not operate as a matter of routine any procedures to check the actual end use of defence equipment exported from the UK under licence. Any information received by my Department that gave reason to believe that exported goods had gone to an end-use for which a licence would not have been issued, would be passed to the commissioners of HM Customs and Excise, who are responsible for enforcement of export controls. It would then be for the Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise to determine on the basis of the information available what, if any, further investigation was appropriate.