§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many export licences were granted in each450W year since 1990 for the export of police or paramilitary training equipment to Indonesia; what public funds were involved in such transactions; and if she will make a statement. [1832]
§ Mrs. RocheThere is no category within the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 from which police or paramilitary training equipment can be readily identified. To search export licence records for this purpose would entail disproportionate cost.
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 22 May, Official Report, column 135, the Government have initiated an urgent review of the criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms. The new criteria will be made available to the House when the review is complete. In the meantime, officials will consult Ministers whenever there are export licence applications which may raise concerns about human rights or international stability.