HC Deb 18 July 2000 vol 354 cc106-7W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licence applications to his Department have been awaiting a decision for more than(a) three months, (b) six months and (c) a year. [130049]

Dr. Howells

[holding answer 11 July 2000]: At 7 July 2000, a decision had not yet been taken on 634 applications for new individual export licences received since 2 May 1997. These are broken down as follows:

Standard individual export licences Open individual export licences
Applications received between:
7 July 1999 or earlier 62 68
8 July 1999 and 7 January 2000 118 52
8 January and 7 April 2000 242 92

The figures for open individual export licences do not cover amendments, extensions or OIELs for protective clothing for the media.

However, 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 307–08W.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 an export required a licence under the weapons of mass destruction end use controls; in which states these end-users were located; and in how many cases the licence was refused. [130800]

Dr. Howells

[holding answer 17 July 2000]: Details of all export licensing decisions taken between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1998 were set out in the Government's 1997 and 1998 annual reports on strategic export controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House. These reports list by country of destination the numbers of export licences issued and refused in each entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled, which is known as their rating.

The end use control applies to goods, not otherwise subject to control, where the exporter has been told or knows or suspects that the goods would or might be used in activities connected with weapons of mass destruction or missiles for their delivery. Goods controlled for these reasons are given the rating "End Use".

Information on export licensing decisions taken in 1999 will be set out in the 1999 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, which will be published soon.