Written question asked by Bill Tynan (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 September 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 October 2002. It was answered by Nigel Griffiths (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 October 2002 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what factors underlay the decision to license the export of beryllium to (a) India and (b) Iran in 2001. - Includes ref to 28 January 1998 at 305 c273-4.

Answer: Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors underlay the decision to license the export of beryllium to (a) India and (b) Iran in 2001. [74697] Nigel Griffiths: All relevant export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria and other previously announced Government policies. The consolidated criteria include a specific reference to the UK's international obligations and commitments that work to prevent the proliferation of both conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. The Government's export licensing policy for Iran was set out in the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Member for Manchester Central, to my hon. Friend, the Member for Rugby & Kenilworth on 28 January 1998, Official Report, columns 273-274. Since the publication of the 2001 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls it has come to light that the entry for Beryllium, licensed for export to India, was incorrectly reported. In any case, the application was refused.

Secondary information