HL Deb 26 May 2004 vol 661 cc138-9WA
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Sudan (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2004 does not prohibit the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of restricted goods. [HL2561]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)

The Sudan (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2004 was made to implement the Overseas Territories Common Position 2004/31/CFSP adopted by the European Union. The common position, inter alia, provides that it shall be prohibited to grant, sell, supply or transfer technical assistance, brokering services and other services related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, directly or indirectly to any person, entity or body in, or for use in, Sudan. Implementation of this obligation was inadvertently omitted from the order. The Government will be amending the order as soon as possible.