Written question asked by Roger Berry (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 November 2002. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 November 2002 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's Answer of 22nd October, 391 c247W, on beryllium, what end-use monitoring has been undertaken in relation to the export of beryllium to Iran. - Inc ref to 391 c531-2W, 28 October 2002.

Answer: Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's Answer of 22nd October, Official Report, column 247W, on beryllium, what end-use monitoring has been undertaken in relation to the export of beryllium to Iran. [78875] Mr. Mike O'Brien: As stated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Mr Nigel Griffiths) on 28 October 2002, Offical Report, Columns 531-532W, the Government attaches great importance to ensuring that UK exports are not misused, diverted or re-exported to undesirable end-uses. A risk assessment was made at the licensing stage of this export, including careful examination of information about the proposed end-use and end-user of the goods. We continue to believe that the export of less than half an ounce of beryllium to the University of Science and Technology in Tehran is not of concern with respect to use in weapons of mass destruction and that the end-use stated in the original export licence application was legitimate. In these circumstances we have considered end-use monitoring not to be necessary for this export.

Secondary information