HC Deb 29 June 1998 vol 315 cc68-9W
Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Ministerial directions he has issued relating to the issue of export licences for the sale of British manufactured goods to Argentina since 2 May 1997. [47569]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

[holding answer 25 June 1998]: There have been no such ministerial directions since 2 May 1997. We continue to consider export licence applications for Argentina in line with the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29, and the Government's announcement of 3 April 1982, Official Report, column 638, which was reported by Mr. John Biffen, the then Secretary of State for Trade, on 5 April 1982, Official Report, columns 688–90.

Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) additions and (b) withdrawals since 2 May 1997 to the list of countries to which his Department will not grant an export licence for the sale of British defence equipment. [47828]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

A summary of Government commitments regarding the application of strategic export controls, which includes all arms embargoes observed by the UK, has been laid in the Library. As noted in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. King) on 28 January 1998,Official Report, columns 273–74, an updated version of the summary will be laid in the Library annually (or more frequently if policy changes require a revision).

Licence applications for the export of conventional arms to all countries are considered on a case by case basis against the arms export criteria announced by right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29, and the European Code of Conduct on Arms Exports adopted by the General Affairs Council on 8 June 1998.