---

Earl Attlee: My Lords, before the noble Baroness sits down, perhaps I may say that she has been extremely helpful on the subject of new licences, but what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the export of dual-use equipment; that is, equipment that can be used for defence or civil purposes? What is the Government's policy regarding spares for in-service defence equipment, especially when those spares could be used for civilian uses or for defence purposes?

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, spares are looked at on a case by case basis by Ministers. All Ministers in the Foreign Office and indeed elsewhere have, on occasions, had to look at these cases. The criteria are the same as the criteria that we apply on dual use and indeed the criteria which I had occasion to articulate to your Lordships a moment or two ago.

All the licences are looked at on the basis of whether the equipment which we are being asked to consider will be used for internal repression or external aggression. That is the policy. I cannot articulate it any more clearly than that, but I assure the noble Lord that licences are carefully scrutinised. In relation to Indonesia, great care is taken by those who are responsible for the scrutiny process.

House adjourned at twenty minutes before eleven o'clock.

---