§ Mr. LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which goods subject to strategic export controls have recently been approved for export to Afghanistan. [1712]
§ Mr. BradshawThe Department of Trade and Industry recently issued an export licence for mine-clearance equipment for use by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA) to assist their demanding activities in Afghanistan. The goods are rated as Military Listed. UNSCR 1333 (2000) which imposes inter alia an arms embargo on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan provides scope for the UN Sanctions Committee to approve of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use to Taliban-controlled territory. The Sanctions Committee has given its approval in this case.
The granting of this export licence is fully consistent with the UN Security Council resolutions and does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU common position on arms exports to Afghanistan.