Dr. ToneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if an export licence(a) has been granted or (b) is expected to be granted, in respect of the 1996 contract with Indonesia for an additional 16 British Aerospace Hawk aircraft. [5889]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 9 July 1997]: Export licences were granted in November 1996 to British Aerospace for 16 Hawk aircraft and equipment for Indonesia. These covered a contract signed in 1996, and represent the second phase of Hawk sales to Indonesia agreed in principle in 1993. They cover the 16 aircraft subject to the second of the contracts referred to in the then Minister for Defence Procurement's answer on 5 February 1997, Official Report, column 621, to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell).
My predecessor had been wrongly advised when, in announcing the grant of these licences on 21 November 1996, Official Report, column 676, he referred to them as covering the second consignment of Hawk aircraft in respect of the 1993 contract. Licences for 24 aircraft under 647W the 1993 contract had already been granted as announced by the then Minister for Trade on 19 December 1995, Official Report, column 1081.
The error arose from a mistaken interpretation on the part of officials that the 1993 contract covered both the original order of aircraft and equipment licensed in 1995, and the second phase to follow. This second phase had, however, separate contractual arrangements.
Thus, export licences have been issued on two occasions, first, covering 24 aircraft and equipment (announced 19 December 1995) and secondly covering 16 aircraft and equipment (announced 21 November 1996).
Procedures are being reviewed with a view to avoiding a repetition of this regrettable error.