HC Deb 17 November 2000 vol 356 cc809-10W
Dr. Starkey

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those arms and components for military or security equipment licensed for sale to Israel since 1997. [135470]

Dr. Howells

Details of export licensing decisions between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1999 have been set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House. The reports list by country of destination the numbers of export licences issued and refused in each equipment category and give details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted. They also set out the value of defence exports to each country.

As regards the period 1 January to 31 October 2000, 153 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 12 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Israel. The information is as summarised broken down according to the entries in the Military List under which the goods on each licence are controlled (known as their rating). It could not be broken down in the manner requested as the equipment covered by most entries in the Military List could be used for military or security purposes.

Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

Individual licences issued between I January and 31 October 2000 covering the export to consignees or end-users in Israel 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 1 2
ML2 3 1
ML3 9 0
ML4 9 2
ML5 24 1
ML6 6 2
ML9 8 2
ML10 38 4
ML11 21 2
ML13 1 0
ML14 1 1
ML15 9 0
ML16 14 0
ML18 4 0
ML21 4 0
ML22 0 3
PL5017 6 4
PL5006 0 1

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.

In addition, Israel 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 placed in the Library of the House.