§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many arms export licences have been granted in the last 12 months; how many have been rejected; and if she will make a statement. [66750]
§ Ms HewittBetween 1 July 2001 and 1 July 2002 the Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation issued 6,449 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 312 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) for items on the military list. During that same period the ECO refused 137 SIEL and 4 OIEL applications in full, for items on the military list.
Details of all relevant export licences issued and refused are published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls; copies of which are placed in the Libraries of the House.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when a decision will be made in relation to individual export licence applications numbered 35307, 35313, 35315 and 35316. [68051]
§ Ms HewittLicences to export arms and other items whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by me as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry acting through the Export Control Organisation (ECO).
1243WDecisions have not yet been reached on export licence applications 35307, 35313, 35315 and 35316. but will be taken as quickly as possible consistent with the need to give full consideration to the issues involved.
§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration is given during the deliberation of export licence applications to the recent human rights record of the country to which the items in question are being exported; and if she will make a statement. [68510]
Mr. O'BrienI have been asked to reply.
All relevant export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time and taking account of other relevant factors. The consolidated criteria were announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe in a written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt) on 26 October 2000, Official Report, column 199–203W. The criteria clearly set out our commitment to take account of the risk that exports might be used for internal repression. In making our assessments we take account of reliable evidence, including for example, reporting from diplomatic posts, relevant reports by international bodies, intelligence and information from open sources and non-governmental organisations. This will include any relevant information about the recent human rights record of the recipient country.