The secret shift in arms sales policy concealed by ministers
Article Abstract:
Publicly stated UK government policy regarding exports to Iraq in the period leading up to the ceasefire in Aug 1988 was broadly in line with the policy actually pursued. However, there are a number of areas for concern. Equipment which could have been either for military or civil use should have been treated as subject to the guidelines on arms exports, but the DTI did not accept this approach. The 'defence allocation' make available to Iraq was not consistent with the government policy of complete impartiality, and the decision to permit the 1987 machine-tool licenses to remain in operation was also not in line with government policy.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1996
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Why I have done nothing wrong
Article Abstract:
UK government ministers did not conspire to use Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificates to ensure that information which would have prevented the jailing of innocent Matrix Churchill executives did not get out. However, this case presented particular difficulties, and report by Sir Richard Scott into the arms-to-Iraq affair states that no further efforts could have been made to stop the Matrix Churchill prosecution going ahead. The final outcome of the trial was a just result.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1996
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Time to sack or legislate
Article Abstract:
The Scott report into the arms-to-Iraq inquiry finally destroys any illusion that UK government ministers are accountable to parliament. Against this background, it has great constitutional significance. It reveals that parliament was consistently misled, an area which should give great cause for concern. It is now time to remove government ministers who withheld information from their posts and to legislate to ensure freedom of information.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1996
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