§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence export contracts have been approved to each of the member states of the Economic Community of Central African States in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [136636]
§ Mr. IngramGovernment approval is not required for defence export contracts.
The Government do, however, control the transfer overseas of defence related goods through the export licensing system. Licence applications by country are reported in the Government's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. Reports covering the period from May 1997 to December 2002 are available in the Library of the House.