HC Deb 30 November 1999 vol 340 cc147-8W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences for the sale of(a) BAe Hawks, (b) Alvis Scorpion vehicles and (c) Tactica water cannons have been issued in 1999. [99300]

Dr. Howells

The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating; the export of "aircraft", unmanned airborne vehicles, aero-engines and "aircraft" equipment, related "goods" and components, specially designed or modified for military use is controlled under ML10; the export of ground vehicles and components thereof specially designed or modified for military use is controlled under ML6, water cannon under PL5001 and other ground vehicles under PL5031. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1999 and 12 November 1999, 1,850 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 84 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export of goods with the relevant ratings. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings and where this is so the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

Individual licences issued between 1 January 1999 and 12 November 1999 covering the export of goods with the relevant rating
Rating Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating
ML6 270 19
ML10 1,527 62
PL5001 44 0
PL5031 9 3

It would entail disproportionate cost to establish which, if any of these licences covered the export of the particular types of equipment concerned, and make any subsequent inquiries necessary under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Information on export licensing decisions in 1999, including details of the military equipment licensed, will be set out in the 1999 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, which will be published in due course.

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 307W–08W.

Copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.