§ 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 Ethiopia have been (i) granted, (ii) refused and (iii) revoked, (1) between February 1995 and May 1997 inclusive and (2) since May 1997; and what was the export licence category in each case. [50584]
567W
§ Mrs. RocheThe Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 February 1995 and 1 May 1997, 19 Individual Export Licences were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Ethiopia of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List: 18 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and one Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL). Between 2 May 1997 and 19 June 1998, 2 SIELs were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Ethiopia of goods subject to export control by being listed in the Military List. In the same period, no OIELs covering such exports were issued.
No SIELs or OIELs covering such exports were revoked and no applications for SIELs or OIELs covering such exports were refused in either period.
The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
Individual Export Licences issued between 1 February 1995 and 9 June 1998 covering the export to Ethiopia of goods on the Military List Rating Number of SIELs issued between 1 February 1995 1 May 1997 covering goods with this rating Number of OIELs issued between 1 February 1995 and 1 May 1997 covering goods with this rating Number of SIELs issued between 2 May 1997 and 19 June 1998 covering goods with this rating ML6 5 0 0 ML10 2 0 0 ML11 9 1 2 ML22 0 0 1 PL5017 1 0 0 PL5027 1 0 0 This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.
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.
It is not possible to break down these data in the manner requested as the equipment covered by many entries in the Military List could be used by military, paramilitary or police end-users.
In addition, goods on the Military List may have been exported to Ethiopia under certain Open General Export Licences; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.