28 March 2012
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UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO), the state department responsible for promoting military and security exports, recently took a number of arms companies on a trip to Libya.
A trade delegation visited the country from 29th April to 3rd May. UKTI DSO officials were accompanied by BAE Systems; CAE (presumably Canadian Aviation Electronics, "a global leader in modelling, simulation and training for civil aviation and defence" [1]); General Dynamics UK; KBR (a subsidiary of Halliburton formerly known as Kellogg, Brown & Root);NATS (presumably the firm going by that name that deals with air traffic control [2]); 3SDL (("A leading provider of acquisition services to defence and security clients around the world" [3]); Selex Galileo; and Surrey Satellite Technology.
The information was provided in response to a parliamentary question asked by Labour MP Ann Clwyd on 24th May, who requested information on "which companies were represented on the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation mission to Libya from 29 April to 3 May 2012." [4]
Ms Clwyd also invited Mr Prisk to make a further statement on the trip. He declined to do so.
This trip was the second in recent months. In February, Richard Paniguian, the head of UKTI DSO, took a number of security firms with him to Libya. According to a brief report on UKTI DSO's website, the Libyan Ministry of Interior's training and equipment requirements will apparently "provide a number of opportunities for UK companies."
Speaking at a conference for government ministers, civil servants, and military and security company executives in April, Paniguian said of the February trip that he and his travelling companions were "amazed" by the business opportunities.
The UK government was heavily criticised for its export of military and security equipment to Libya until the end of 2010.
According to government figures, export licences with a total value of £3.76 million were approved in the final quarter of 2010, including components for combat aircraft and over £446,000 worth of small arms equipment, including "weapon sights" and "weapon night sights". [5]
The total value of exports to Libya in 2010 came to some £217 million. The UK currently has an embargo on sales to the country, although clearly there is significant appetite for exports to resume.
Sources
[1] CAE, 'About CAE'
[2] NATS, 'Our services'
[3] 3SDL home page.
[4] House of Commons, Hansard Written Answers for 24 May 2012, 'Overseas trade: Libya'
[5] Campaign Against Arms Trade, 'New report shows that UK kept exporting arms to Libya through 2010', 21st April 2011
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