§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the export licences granted for the export of(a) CS gas, (b) CS irritant cartridges and (c) CS canisters to Malaysia (1) in each year since 1992 broken down by category code; [128552]
(2) since 1992 where end use destination was for other countries. [128553]
§ Dr. HowellsThe entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The export of CS gas, CS irritant cartridges and CS canisters are controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule I of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 as amended (commonly known as the Military List): CS and other irritants under entry ML7; cartridges (as ammunition) containing CS irritants under entries ML3 or PL5021 and canisters containing CS irritants under ML4 or PL5030. However, a variety of other devices may contain tear gas and these are also controlled under the latter four entries above as well as several other entries: for instance, portable anti-riot devices for administering an incapacitating substance under PL5001; grenades under ML4 or PL5030; ammunition (including artillery and mortar) under ML3 or PL5021; gas projectors or generators under ML2 or PL5018; gas projecting equipment for controlled ground vehicles, combatant vessels or aircraft, that are specially designed or modified for military use under entries ML6, ML9, or ML10 respectively; and portable devices designed for self-protection by the administration of an incapacitating 245W substance under entry 1A905 of the Dual-Use and Related Goods (Export Control) Regulation 1996, as amended. It should be noted that other goods may also be controlled under each of these entries.
The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated. Between 1 January 1992 and 1 May 1997, 548 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end users in Malaysia of goods with the relevant ratings: in the same period six SIELs were issued covering such exports to consignees in Malaysia with end users in any other destination.
Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings and OIELs may cover a range of countries. Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all the relevant ratings.
SIELs issued between 1 January 1992 and 1 May 1997 covering the export of goods with the relevant ratings to consignees in Malaysia with endusers in Malaysia and other destinations Rating Malaysia Australia Indonesia Kuwait Singapore ML2 68 0 1 0 0 ML3 17 0 0 0 0 ML4 128 0 1 0 0 ML6 83 0 0 0 0 ML7 47 0 0 0 0 ML9 45 1 0 0 0 ML10 157 0 0 1 2 PL5001 3 0 0 0 0 PL5018 10 0 0 0 0 PL5021 2 0 0 0 0 An Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) is specific to an individual exporter and covers multiple shipments of specified goods to specified destinations and/or, in some cases, specified consignees; these licences do not authorise exports by the licensee other than to those destinations specified on the licence and do not prohibit transfer between those permitted destinations. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated. Between 1 January 1994 and 1 May 1997, 57 OIELs were issued covering the export of goods with the relevant ratings to Malaysia and any other destination.
OIELs issued between 1 January 1994 and 1 May 1997 covering the export of goods with the relevant ratings to Malaysia and any other destination Rating Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating ML2 4 ML3 3 ML4 13 ML6 5 ML7 1 ML9 14 ML10 19 PL5001 2 PL5018 1 Details of SIELs and OIELs issued between 2 May and 31 December 1997 were set out in the Government's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: one of the SIELs issued in this period covered the export of such goods to Malaysia with an end user in the United Arab Emirates.
246WDetails of SIELs and OIELs issued between 1 January and 31 December 1998 were set out in the Government's second Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls; copies of both reports are available from the Library of the House: five SIELs issued in this period covered the export of such goods to Malaysia with an end user in any other destination.
SIELs issued between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 1998 covering the export of goods with the relevant ratings to consignees in Malaysia with end users in other destinations ML4 ML10 Brunei 0 1 Chile 1 0 Hong Kong SAR 1 0 Philippines 0 1 Singapore 1 0 Between 1 January 1999 and 23 June 2000, 69 SIELs were issued covering the export of such goods to consignees and end users in Malaysia. In the same period, one SIEL was issued covering such exports to a consignee in Malaysia with an end user in Singapore. In the same period, 32 OIELs were issued covering the export of such goods to Malaysia and any other destination.
SIELs issued between 1 January 1999 and 23 June 2000 covering the export of goods with the relevant ratings to consignees in Malaysia with end users in Malaysia and other destinations Rating Malaysia Singapore ML2 12 0 ML3 10 0 ML4 11 1 ML6 4 0 ML7 4 0 ML9 8 0 ML10 24 1 PL5001 1 0
OIELs issued between 1 January 1999 and 23 June 2000 covering the export of goods with the relevant ratings to Malaysia and other destinations Rating Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating ML2 1 ML4 1 ML6 5 ML9 11 ML10 15 PL5018 1 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.
All of the information set out 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 307–08W.
247WFinally, Malaysia is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List and other goods; copies of all Open General Export Licences are routinely placed in the Library of the House.