Written question asked by Lord Hanningfield (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Truscott (Labour) on Monday, 19 March 2007.

Iran: Export Credit Guarantees

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 7 November 2006 (WA 125-26) on export credit guarantees for Iran, whether any of the technology listed has the potential for use within the nuclear industry; and, if so, how.

Answer: In principle, a very wide range of goods and technologies have potential for use within the nuclear industry. Export licences are required for any which are specifically controlled under the military or dual-use lists (which, in turn, reflect the control lists in the international non-proliferation regimes), and any which the exporter knows, suspects or has been informed are for use in a WMD programme of concern. It is primarily the exporter's responsibility to determine this. In the case of the items listed in Lord Sainsbury's Answer, many of the companies listed did approach the Export Control Organisation (ECO) for advice on these issues or submitted applications, and the ECO, having fully examined those cases, was able either to issue licences or to confirm that licences were not required. If we had judged that there was a risk of use within a WMD programme of concern, then licences would have been refused.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2142; 690 c167WA
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Iran: Export Credit Guarantees
Thursday, 29 March 2007
Written questions
House of Lords; Iran: Export Credit Guarantees
Tuesday, 7 November 2006
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Exports Export credit guarantees Nuclear power Iran
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk