§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about licences issued to Pains-Wessex Ltd. and Haley and Weller Ltd. for the export to the Kenyan security forces of tear gas canisters and rubber batons. [80168]
§ Dr. HowellsI can confirm that a licence was issued to Pains-Wessex Ltd. on 16 December 1992 for the export to the Kenyan Police of 150 Mk 2 multi-purpose guns, 2,000 rubber batons and 1,500 CS gas grenades. Another licence was issued to Haley and Weller Ltd. on 22 July 1994 for the export to the Kenyan Police of 500 rubber batons and 500 CS gas grenades. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Finally, my officials have been informed by the Chief Executive of Chemring Group plc, the parent company of both of these companies, that neither Haley and Weller nor Pains-Wessex Ltd. has supplied any further products of this type to Kenya, and also that Chemring Group plc is keen to establish an ethical policy and has had a meeting with Amnesty International on this matter.
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