§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those arms and items of military equipment which were approved for export to Uganda and Zimbabwe in each of the years 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [117983]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 6 April 2000]: Details of export licensing decisions between 1 January and 31 December 1998 were set out in the Government's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in November 1999; copies are in the Library of the House.
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. Between 1 January 1999 and 28 March 2000, three Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and no Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Uganda 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. Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
SIELs issued between 1 January 1999 and 28 March 2000 covering the export to Uganda of goods on the Military List Rating Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating ML2 1 ML3 1 ML6 1 PL503 1 Between 1 January 1999 and 28 March 2000,22 SIELs and six OIELs were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Zimbabwe of goods on the Military List.
Individual Licences issued between 1 January 1999 and 28 March2000 covering the export to Zimbabwe 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 5 1 ML2 6 1 ML3 1 0 ML5 0 1 ML6 2 1 MLIO 7 0 ML11 0 2 PL5002 0 1 PL5018 1 2 The seven SIELs covering goods with the rating ML10 were issued on 24 February 2000 for the export of Hawk spares, as noted in the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Hain) to my hon. Friend the Member for 621W Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King) on 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 718W. These decisions were taken in line with the policy set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 9 February 2000, Official Report, columns 184–85W.
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, Uganda and Zimbabwe are permitted destinations on certain Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences are routinely placed in the Library of the House.