Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons
dated 18 July 1996 for the Appendices to the Report of the Inquiry into the Export of Defence Equipment and Dual-Use Goods to Iraq and Related Prosecutions laid before The House on 15 February 1996*

Volume One
Section D Arms and Defence-Related Exports to Iraq
Chapter 2 Applications of The Guidelines in the period
December 1984 to August 1988

Excerpt:
Specific Cases - (x) Cymbeline Radar

D2.209 The IDC at its meeting on 20 June 1985 approved Thorn-EMI’s ELA for the supply to Iraq of Cymbeline mortar detecting radar. *310 The MODWG had assessed the supply as an insignificant enhancement of Iraqi military capability. *311 The FCO raised no objection and the ELA was issued. A further ELA was approved at the IDC meeting held on 2 July 1987. The Summary Record of the meeting records that “the MOD said that the equipment used old technology and did not constitute a significant enhancement of Iraqi military capability.”*312

D2.210 A Note dated 17 July 1987 by Mr Barrett (DESS2) drew the attention of Lord Trefgarne, the Minister (DP), to various matters discussed at the 2 July 1987 IDC meeting, one of which was the Cymbeline ELA. *313 Lord Trefgarne “had initial misgivings about [the Cymbeline ELA] but accepted [the] advice that this fell within guidelines as being militarily insignificant, and noted that the FCO are satisfied that we can live with the deal from a presentational point of view”. The ELA, accordingly, was granted.

Endnotes
*310 - see MOD/8.2.181 at paragraph 1

*311 - see MOD/8.2.219 at paragraph 2

*312 - see FCO/2.5.99 at paragraph 8(b)

*313 - see MOD/13.2.81 at paragraph 2(c)

* The Full report is available from The Stationery Office Ltd., PO Box 276, London, SW8 5DT.