§ Baroness Coxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give an assurance that the export to Sudan of chemical agents known to be precursors for the manufacture of chemical agents such as mustard gas does not contravene United Kingdom or international arms control policies or legislation. [HL4217]
§ The Minister for Science, Department of 'Trade and industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)The export of precursors of toxic chemicals, such as triethanolamine and sodium sulphide, is subject to control by being listed in the Australia Group Chemical Weapons precursor list. Both chemicals are listed because triethanolamine may be used as a precursor in the manufacture of nitrogen mustard, and sodium sulphide may be used as a precursor in the manufacture of sulphur mustard. However, both chemicals also have many commercial uses.
The export of such chemicals would not therefore be allowed unless under the authority of a valid export licence. All applications for an individual export licence are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the criteria announced in the other place by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary on 27 July 1997 (Official Report, col. 26–29), and since June 1998 against the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.