Letter to the Chair from the Minister
of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Thank you for your letter of 25 August to Margaret
Beckett about British made equipment found in Southern Lebanon.
I am replying as the Minister responsible for export controls
in the FCO.
The Government approached the Israeli Defence
Forces (IDF) about reports that they had found British-made thermal
imaging equipment in southern Lebanon. They have now provided
us with full details of the two pieces of British-made equipment
found. The Government of Israel made no complaint about this equipment,
and has been grateful for the UK's determination to get to the
bottom of this issue.
The first item was a remote video camera manufactured
in the UK, which did not require an export licence and is widely
available through normal commercial outlets.
The other item was a static thermal imaging
system (described by the Dual Use List (not the Military List)
and as such required an export licence) that was exported under
an export licence to Lebanon for use at a private residence in
1999. An export licence would still be required if the same
equipment were to be exported now. The exporter has confirmed
that the equipment was exported and would have been part of a
fixed installation, and that the equipment is not suitable for
hand held operation.
The equipment found by the IDF was not exported
to Iran, as the media have speculated, nor did it include night
vision goggles.
We continue our policy of rigorously assessing
each export licence application on a case-by-case basis against
consolidated EU and national export licensing criteria. If we
assess that the issue of a licence would be inconsistent with
these criteria, we will not issue a licence. The licence for the
static thermal imaging system was issued on the basis of all the
facts available at the time, and at that time (1999), there was
no reason to suspect that the equipment would be used for anything
other than its described purpose. Whilst proper procedures were
followed in relation to this export licence, the threat of diversion
is obviously a matter of considerable concern, and one which I
will continue to take most seriously. The circumstances surrounding
this matter will be factored into our consideration of export
license applications in the future.
The UK is, of course, fully committed to the
implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,
including through our export licensing policy. UNSCR 1701 specifies
that arms or related material may only be sold or supplied to
Lebanon with the Lebanese Government's authorisation.
You also raise the point about end-use monitoring.
The preferred position of the Government remains to issue export
licences without end-use conditions, undertaking instead strict
risk assessment at the pre-licensing stage and refusing a licence
when there is an unacceptable risk of diversion or misuse. In
addition, UK Overseas Posts have standing instructions to report
any misuse of UK-origin defence equipment. If the conditions of
a licence were breached, this would be taken fully into account
when the Government assesses any subsequent licence applications.
The Government may also, if appropriate, revoke other related
licences, and consider whether to prosecute if any criminal offence
has been committed.
The recommendations in the Committee's Annual
Report 2004-05 were appreciated. The Government is working on
a response to the report and looks forward to publishing it as
soon as possible after recess.
September 2006
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