HC Deb 23 May 2000 vol 350 cc472-4W
Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many open export licences for the export of aircraft spares to Kenya remained in force between January and April; what items have been supplied under these licences during this period; and what end-use assurances have been given by the Kenyan authorities in relation to the re-export of equipment supplied under these licences. [122554]

Dr. Howells

The export of military aircraft spares is controlled under entries ML5, ML10, ML11, ML15, ML16 and ML21 in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. 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 and 30 April 2000, 30 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) gave licence coverage to export to consignees or end-users in Kenya, goods with the relevant ratings.

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.

Open Individual Export Licences valid for the export to Kenya of goods with the relevant ratings
Rating Number of valid OIELs covering goods with this rating and including Kenya as a permitted destination (OIELs may cover a range of countries)
ML5 5
ML10 19
ML11 9
ML15 2
ML21 2

In the period, there were no valid OIELs for Kenya covering goods with the rating ML16.

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.

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. The exporter must obtain from each consignee an appropriate written undertaking for each export before the export takes place, or not later than one month after the date of exportation. Where the exporter intends to make more than one exportation to the same consignee in any period of one year, an annual written undertaking may be obtained in fulfilment of this requirement. As with SIELs, where goods are being consigned direct to a Government body, the DTI will normally accept a copy of the Government purchase contract order, or the relevant extracts from the contract.

In addition, Kenya is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List. An Open General Export Licence (OGEL) allows the export from the UK of goods specified in the goods coverage of the OGEL to specified destinations. In such circumstances, end-user undertakings are not required. Copies of OGELs are routinely placed in the Library of the House.

As regards the additional information requested, inquiries are being made under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Where confidential information is involved, the parties concerned will be asked if they object to its disclosure, and this can take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry since December 1998 how many(a) single and (b) open export licences have been issued for the export of aircraft spares to Kenya. [122555]

Dr. Howells

The export of military aircraft spares is controlled under entries ML5, ML10, ML11, ML15, ML16 and ML21 in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. 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 December 1998 and 8 May 2000, one Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) and 12 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Kenya of goods with the relevant ratings. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

£ million
1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Research Council budgets
BBSRC 177.996 184.531 183.980 188.042 190.818 198.276 202.420
EPSRC 332.338 354.389 377.983 386.276 389.444 404.796 412.026
ESRC 59.215 61.508 64.070 65.227 67.506 70.782 71.300
MRC 270.576 271.599 282.083 289.078 293.998 305.566 319.151
NERC 167.939 169.281 159.341 168.150 174.967 178.715 181.450
PPARC 204.629 202.806 213.536 197.869 193.105 186.680 205.774
Total 1,212.693 1,244.114 1,280.993 1,294.642 1,309.838 1,344.815 1,392.121

1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
UK population (million)1 58.401 58.612 58,807 59,014 59.237 2 2
Amount per member of the UK population (£)
BBSRC 3.05 3.15 3.13 3.19 3.22
EPSRC 5.69 6.05 6.43 6.55 6.57
ESRC 1.01 1.05 1.09 1.11 1.14
MRC 4.63 4.63 4.80 4.90 4.96
NERC 2.88 2.89 2.71 2.85 2.95
PPARC 3.50 3.46 3.63 3.35 3.26
Total 20.76 21.23 21.78 21.94 22.11
1 Calendar year figures—mid-year estimate from Population Trends, Spring 2000
2Not available

Open Individual Export Licences valid for the export to Kenya of goods with the relevant ratings
Rating Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating and including Kenya as a permitted destination (OIELs may cover a range of countries)
ML5 3
ML10 8
ML11 3
ML15 1
ML21 2

The one SIEL issued covered goods with the rating ML10. There were no SIELs or OIELs issued covering goods with the rating ML16.

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.

In addition, Kenya 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 are routinely placed in the Library of the House.