Written question asked by Robert Key (Conservative) on Wednesday, 7 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 December 2005. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 19 December 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Equipment Exports (Libya/China)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on exporting defence equipment to (a) Libya and (b) China.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.The Government continues to implement fully the EU arms embargo on exports to China, as set out by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply to a question by the hon. Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 3 June 1998 Official Report, columns 240W-241W. In addition, all export licence applications for Libya and China are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other announced Government policies. The criteria clearly set out, among other considerations, our commitment to assess the risk that exports might be diverted under undesirable conditions, used for internal repression, external aggression, to abuse human rights, or the risk of reverse engineering or unintended technology transfer.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 36746; 440 c2340W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Arms trade Defence equipment China Exports EU defence policy Libya
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk