Written question asked by Alex Sobel (Labour) on Thursday, 7 March 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 March 2024 (named day). It was answered by Nusrat Ghani (Conservative) on Thursday, 14 March 2024 on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade.

Export Controls: Sanctions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the Export Control Joint Unit reviews urgent trade sanctions license applications in a timely manner.

Answer: In making decisions on whether to grant a licence to permit something otherwise prohibited by sanctions legislation & regulations, the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), comprised of subject matter experts and officials in the Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Ministry of Defence, acts on behalf of the Secretary of State. ECJU is obligated to consider applications on a case-by-case basis, determining whether granting a licence would be consistent with the stated purposes of the sanctions regime, licensing grounds, and United Nations or international law obligations. When assessing applications ECJU also consults and considers views from a range of other government departments.

Secondary information