§ Ann ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for licences for the export of(a) paramilitary, (b) security and (c) police equipment to Indonesia have been (i) granted, (ii) refused and (iii) revoked since 13 November 1997; and of those separate totals, if she will state the individual export licence category for each of them. [35719]
§ Mrs. RocheThe Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows. Between 14 November 1997 and 6 March 1998 inclusive, 29 Standard Individual Export Licences were issued to export to end-users or consignees in Indonesia goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order (the so-called "Military List"), and none was revoked; two applications for such Licences were refused. This information is summarised below, broken down according to the entries in the Military List under which the goods on each licence are controlled (known as their rating). It could not be broken down in the manner requested as the equipment covered by most entries in the Military List could be used by military, paramilitary or police end-users. Standard Individual export licences can cover a range of goods, controlled under several entries346W in the legislation. Where this is so the licence is included in the Table in the total shown against each of the relevant ratings.
No Open Individual Licences for such exports were issued or revoked in this period, and no applications for such licences were refused. This does not include Media OIELs, which are Open Individual Export Licences authorising the export to any destination of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists when working in areas of conflict.
Standard individual export licences Rating Licences issued Application refused ML1 3 1 ML2 2 0 ML4 1 0 ML1O 11 0 ML 11 8 0 ML 13 4 0 ML14 3 0 ML 15 2 0 PL5017 0 1 The information should be considered in light of my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), on 30 October 1997, Official Report, Columns 870–71.
In addition to the above, goods on the Military List may have been exported to Indonesia during the period concerned under various Open General Export Licences. Copies of all such licences are in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what armaments have been licensed for export to Indonesia since 13 November 1997. [38127]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 6 April 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) today.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what impact the criteria set out in the written answer of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29, have had on the (a) number and (b) proportion of export licences circulated to other departments by the Export Control Organisation. [36758]
§ Mrs. RocheThe criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs are intended to ensure that arms transfers are managed responsibly and that they do not contribute to internal repression or international aggression. Therefore, the announcement did not result in any change to the arrangements by which DTI circulates applications. Irrespective of whether or not they have to be circulated, the number of applications received by the Department at any time is affected by many factors, and any change could not be ascribed to any one factor alone.
§ Mr. RoweTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list(a) all United Kingdom arms exports and (b) all arms export deals for which licences have been (i) refused and (ii) cancelled since I May 1997. [28717]
§ Mrs. RocheThe Department of Trade and Industry does not compile records of exports to any destination.
347WThe Export Control Organisation's databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows.
Decision reached between 2 May 1997 and 12 January 1998 Refused in full Revoked Standard individual export licences 23 8 Open individual export licences 3 0 The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. Individual export licences often cover a range of goods, controlled under several entries in the legislation. Where this is so the application or licence is included in the Table in the total shown against each of the relevant ratings.
Applications for individual export licences refused in full between 2 May 1997 and 12 January 1998 covering goods on the Military List Number of applications refused in full covering goods with this rating Standard individual export licences Open individual export licences ML1 8 0 ML2 2 0 ML3 3 1 ML4 0 2 ML6 3 0 ML7 1 0 ML9 2 0 ML11 2 0 ML13 1 0 ML14 1 0 PL5001 1 0 PL5002 1 0 PL5017 1 0 PL5031 1 0
Individual export licences revoked in full between 2 May 1997 and 12 January 1998 covering goods on the Military List Number of licences revoked in full covering goods with this rating Standard individual export licences Open individual export licences ML1 4 0 ML2 2 0 ML3 1 0 PL5001 1 0 PL5018 1 0 PL5021 1 0 This information should be considered in light of my answer to my hon Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.