§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines exist concerning the provision by(a) serving and (b) former armed forces personnel of military, police, security services and equipment to other countries; and what assessment he has made of these guidelines. [3686]
§ Mr. SpellarAll armed forces personnel are subject to Queen's Regulations, lifelong duties under the Official Secrets Act 1989 and, where applicable, individual operating instructions for specific tasks. Additionally, personnel serving under the operational or administrative command of the Director Special Forces are required to sign a confidentiality contract.
Former armed forces personnel are subject to the Official Secrets Act and under Queen's Regulations all Service officers must obtain the approval of the Ministry of Defence before accepting, within two years of leaving the Service, an offer of employment or a consultancy with a defence contractor or foreign government.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the minutes of meetings and other documents relating to meetings between his Department's Defence Export Services Organisation personnel and officials of(a) Procurement Services International and (b) Greys Defence Systems Ltd. [3685]
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§ Mr. SpellarThe Defence Export Services Organisation's mission is to provide British defence exporters with the strongest possible Government support within the framework of the defence, security and foreign policies of the Government of the day. As with many other companies, DESO has had regular contact with the Greys Group, which includes both Procurement Services International and Greys Defence Systems Ltd. Details of meetings between DESO and its customers cannot be released due to their commercial confidentiality.
I am withholding the information requested under exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.