asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they permit the export of equipment that might be used for repression or torture; and if so what is the scale of such exports and whether they take into account before permitting the exports the human rights records of recipient country.

The human rights record of the country concerned is taken into account in considering all applications for licences under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987 (SI 1987, No. 2070) for the export of equipment used in connection with repression or torture. It has been the practice of successive governments not to make public details of export licences applied for or granted.