§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arms export licences have been issued for shipments to Sri Lanka since May 1997. [96419]
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§ Dr. HowellsFor the period 2 May 1997 to 25 February 1999, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) on 17 March 1999,Official Report, columns 683-84.
The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 26 February and 19 October 1999, 22 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 3 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued for the export to consignees or end-users in Sri Lanka of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
Individual Licences issued between 26 February 1999 and 9 October 1999 for the export to Sri Lanka of goods on the Military List Rating Number of SIELS issued covering goods with this rating Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating ML1 2 0 ML2 2 0 ML3 4 0 ML4 4 0 ML5 2 1 ML6 1 0 ML7 2 0 ML11 2 2 ML13 0 1 ML14 0 1 ML15 3 0 PL5001 1 0 PL5017 3 0 PL5030 1 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 the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 307–08.
In addition, Sri Lanka is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.