§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list drug seizures made by Royal Navy vessels since 1997; where the seizures took place; what the value of each seizure was; and if he will make a statement. [76289]
§ Mr. IngramThe Royal Navy vessel regularly deployed to the Caribbean conducts counter-narcotics patrols, working in conjunction with HM Customs and Excise, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and national authorities in the region. Whilst there were no interdictions in 1997 and 1998, there have been a number of successful operations in the Caribbean since then. These are as follows:
overseas. Carrying out effective risk assessment on end-users before making the export licensing decision is the surest way of preventing arms from falling into the wrong hands.
As set out in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 8 July, Official Report, columns 650–52W; where components are for incorporation and reexport to a third party, we will also have regard to the export control policies and effectiveness of the export control system of the incorporating country.
439WProactive monitoring of defence exports is only carried out in those cases of greatest concern. Our overseas posts have standing instructions to report on allegations of misuse of any UK-origin defence equipment. We take these reports into account in our assessment.