§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what spare parts and other components have been exported by British companies in the last three months, for use in helicopters by the Israeli military; and what export licences for such equipment are pending. [138987]
§ Dr. HowellsLicences to export arms and other goods whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and the Export Control Organisation (ECO) of the Department of Trade and Industry is the licensing authority. The ECO of the DTI does not compile records of licensed exports. Some licences are only used in part, while others may not be used at all. The extent to which the exports permitted by a licence are made is dependent on various factors; for example the customer's requirements may be less than originally expected or the expected contract may simply not materialise. Statistics on UK exports of military equipment are compiled by HM Customs and Excise. This information is set out in Part III of the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls.
As of 16 November 2000, 44 applications for a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) and 19 applications for an Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) covering the export to Government or commercial consignees or end-users in Israel are awaiting a decision. It should also be noted that OIEL applications cover multiple shipments of specified goods to specified destinations or specified consignees, not specified end-users. These figures have been obtained by searching the ECO's computer databases using the entries relating to military aircraft spares.
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.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many applications for permanent licences to export CS gas to Israel have been made each year since 1997; [139232]
(2) how many applications for permanent licences to export CS gas to Israel have been refused in each year since 1997. [139233]
§ Dr. HowellsThe entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The export of CS gas is controlled under the following 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, certain other 533W devices may also contain tear gas, for example, 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 substance under entry 1A905 of the
Rating 2 May to 31 December 1997 1 January to 31 December 1998 1 January to 31 December 1999 1 January to 10 November 2000 Number of SIEL applications received ML2 1 2 0 2 ML3 8 12 9 12 ML4 7 8 14 13 ML6 6 15 3 7 ML7 1 4 1 0 ML9 7 2 8 11 ML10 16 36 21 46 Number of OIEL applications received ML2 0 0 0 0 ML3 0 0 0 0 ML4 0 2 1 3 ML6 0 3 1 5 ML7 0 0 0 0 ML9 0 3 2 6 ML10 0 7 3 15 Note:
There were no SIEL or OIEL applications received covering the export of goods with the ratings PL5001, PL5018, PL5021, PL5030 or 1A905
It Would entail disproportionate cost to establish Whish, if any of export of CS gas. However, 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 for which licences have been granted.
Between 2 May 1997 and 10 November 2000, one application for a SIEL was refused covering the export to consignees or end-users in Israel of goods with the relevant ratings. The paper records have been examined and this application covered the the export of CS gas. In the same period no application for an OIEL were refused covering goods with the relevant ratings.
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.