Foreign companies supplied Iraq's nuclear weapons programme with detonators, fissionable material and parts for a uranium enrichment plant. Foreign companies also provided Iraq's chemical and biological programmes with basic materials; helped with building labs; assisted the extension of missile ranges; provided technology to fit missiles with nuclear, biological and chemical warheads and supplied Scud mobile launch-pads. Nearly all the weapons that were supplied have been destroyed, accounted for or immobilised, according to former weapons inspectors.
The Foreign Office said: “The U.K. will investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute any U.K. company found to have been in breach of export control legislation.” The Department of Trade and Industry said details on export licences, including information on weapons sold to Iraq, was unavailable.
A spokesman for one of the British companies named, Endshire Export Marketing, said it had sold a consignment of magnets to a German middle-man who sold them to Iraq. Responding to claims that magnets could be used in a nuclear programme, the spokesman said: “I've no idea if this is the case. I couldn't tell one end of a nuclear bomb from the other.” The company was included on a U.S. boycott list in 1991.
The Foreign Office said: “The U.K. will investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute any U.K. company found to have been in breach of export control legislation.” The Department of Trade and Industry said details on export licences, including information on weapons sold to Iraq, was unavailable.
A spokesman for one of the British companies named, Endshire Export Marketing, said it had sold a consignment of magnets to a German middle-man who sold them to Iraq. Responding to claims that magnets could be used in a nuclear programme, the spokesman said: “I've no idea if this is the case. I couldn't tell one end of a nuclear bomb from the other.” The company was included on a U.S. boycott list in 1991.