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Written question asked by John Stanley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 February 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 February 2015 (named day). It was answered by Matt Hancock (Conservative) on Monday, 23 February 2015 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Standard Individual Export Licences: Middle East

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer given to the right Hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling on 9 February 2015 to Question 222938, regarding the standard individual export licence for equipment employing cryptography and software for equipment employing cryptography to the value of £7.7 billion approved by his Department for export to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, what the reasons were for the surrender of that licence by the exporter in August 2014; what role was played by his Department in the surrender of that licence; and what the reasons were for his Department's approval of that licence in the first quarter of 2013 when it was then surrendered unused by the exporter 18 months later.

Answer

Exporters are not obliged to give reasons for surrendering licences. This was a purely commercial decision by the company and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills played no part in the decision to surrender the licence.

As is the case with all applications, this application was assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria in the usual way, taking into account the nature of the goods and the intended end-use. The application was for electronic components and circuit boards, which are specifically designed for building mobile phone networks for public use. The proposed export did not breach any of the Criteria and therefore the licence was granted.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
224113
Session
2014-15
Related items
Standard Individual Export Licences: Middle East
Monday, 9 February 2015
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Israel Palestine Cryptography Standard individual export licences
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk