Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 5 December 2011.

Surveillance: Telecommunications

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 21 November (HL 13294) that officials of the United Kingdom Government National Technical Authority for Information Assurance met the company, Creativity Software, in March 2009, before surveillance technology was sold to Iran, (1) what was discussed at the meeting; (2) what assessment was made by the Authority of the use to which the technology could be put in controlling a civilian population; (3) which Ministers were told about the exports; (4) why the export of this equipment was not reviewed with Creativity Software as details of human rights issues in Iran became publicly documented; and (5) which other companies selling similar technology in the region were also interviewed by the authority.

Answer: (1) Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG) discussed the technical specifications of Creativity Software's products; (2) CESG's role is to advise BIS as to whether a product meets the criteria for control as set out under category 5 of the UK Strategic Export Control Lists; (3) As the product was not subject to export control no Ministers were informed; (4) The product is not subject to export control. There was therefore nothing to review; and (5) CESG discusses potential exports with those seeking export control licences when appropriate for their area of technical expertise; Surveillance technology is not controlled under our current export licensing system as there are many legitimate uses for this technology. However, the Government take their export control responsibilities very seriously and do not license the export of controlled equipment where there is a clear risk that it could be used for internal repression or human rights abuses. We take any reports of exports being misused overseas very seriously, and the extent to which export controls should apply to surveillance equipment is something that the Government are actively considering.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 13573; 733 c134-5WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Surveillance: Telecommunications
Monday, 21 November 2011
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Electronic surveillance Human rights Exports Iran Communications-Electronic Security Group Creativity Software
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk