§ Mr. BluntTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many defence export licence applications have been outstanding since September 1997. [33135]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 6 March 1998]: The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows. At 6 February 1998, decisions had not been taken on 1,469 applications for standard individual licences and 117 applications for open individual licences received since 1 September 1997 to export 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").
This information should be considered in light of the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives are planned to ensure cross departmental co-operation and the sharing of information relating to applications for licences to export arms. [34526]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 16 March 1998]: The Department of Trade and Industry already works closely with other Departments and Agencies of the Government in export licensing. There are well-tested arrangements for sharing information.
Looking to the future, the Department is developing a system which will allow export licence applications to be made electronically, and hopes to show it to a number of 143W companies to seek their opinions very soon. This work, which is proceeding in consultation with the other Departments most closely concerned with export licensing, will create the potential further to improve interdepartmental communication.
§ Ann ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for arms export licences to Turkey(a) are currently pending with her Department and(b) have been (i) approved and (ii) refused since 5 November 1997, listing the amount of equipment and the companies involved. [34357]
§ Mrs. RocheThe Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows for the period between 5 November 1997 and 6 February 1998 in respect of applications for individual licences to export to endusers or consignees in Turkey goods controlled under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order (the so-called "Military List").
Applications pending at 6 February 1998 Licences issued Applications refused in full Standard Individual 76 38 0 Export Licences — — — Open Individual 72 4 0 Export Licences — — — This 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.
These figures exclude 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.
As regards the additional information requested, it would entail disproportionate cost to make the inquiries necessary under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the arms for which licences for export to the Philippines have been granted in the past five years. [29120]
§ Mrs. RocheThe Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows. Between 1 January 1993 and 12 January 1998, 142 standard individual licences and 32 Open Individual Licences were issued for the export to endusers or consignees in the Philippines of 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").
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 144W under several entries in the legislation. Where this is so the licence is included in the Table in the total shown against each of the relevant ratings.
Standard individual licences issued for the export to the Philippines of goods on the Military List Number of licences covering goods with this rating 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (until 12 January) ML1 7 3 18 16 19 0 ML2 0 1 0 1 1 0 ML3 3 1 3 4 0 0 ML4 0 0 0 0 0 0 ML5 0 2 1 2 3 0 ML6 0 6 3 3 3 0 ML7 0 0 0 0 0 0 ML8 0 0 1 0 0 0 ML9 0 0 1 0 1 0 ML10 0 0 0 1 1 0 ML11 2 4 5 5 1 0 ML12 0 0 0 0 0 0 ML13 0 0 0 2 0 0 ML14 0 0 0 1 1 0 ML15 2 3 3 2 3 1 ML18 0 0 0 0 1 0 ML22 0 0 0 0 7 0 PL5002 0 0 2 0 0 0 PL5006 0 0 0 2 0 0 PL5009 0 0 0 0 0 0 PL5017 0 0 1 1 5 0 PL5018 1 1 0 0 0 0 PL5021 0 2 1 0 0 0
Open individual licences issued for the export to the Philippines of goods on the Military List Number of licences covering goods with this rating 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (until 12 January) ML1 0 0 0 1 0 ML3 1 0 0 0 0 ML4 2 0 1 0 0 ML5 0 2 2 1 0 ML6 0 0 1 0 0 ML8 2 0 0 0 1 ML10 1 0 2 0 0 ML11 2 0 2 1 0 ML13 3 1 5 0 0 ML14 0 0 1 0 0 ML15 1 0 0 0 0 ML17 0 0 0 1 0 PL5001 0 0 1 0 0 PL5017 1 1 1 0 0 PL5027 1 0 0 0 0 These figures exclude so-called 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.
This 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.
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§ Mr. QuinnTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 30 October 1997,Official Report, columns 870–71, if statistics on export licences issued and refused for the second half of 1996 have been placed in the Library.[36624]
§ Mrs. RocheThe statistics on export licences issued and refused for the second half of 1996 have been placed in the Library of the House today.