HC Deb 20 October 2003 vol 411 cc375-6W
Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures the Defence Export Services Organisation undertakes to ensure that special commissions for which it grants permission represent legitimate fees for services rendered. [132363]

Mr. Ingram

The Defence Export Services Organisation does not authorise the payment of commissions.

Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether BAE Systems sought or obtained clearance from his Department or from the Defence Export Services Organisation for payment of agency commission in connection with the sale of defence equipment to South Africa; [132365]

(2) whether British Aerospace (a) sought and (b) obtained clearance from (i) his Department and (ii) the Defence Export Services Organisation for the payment of agency commission in connection with the sale of defence equipment to Qatar. [132367]

Mr. Ingram

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence gave on 1 September 2003,Official Report, column 899W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).

Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests for special commissions have been referred to the Defence Export Services Organisation since 1995; and how many such requests DESO have granted, in which countries and on what dates. [132364]

Mr. Ingram

None.

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