Guidance

Export licensing statistics statement of administrative sources

Updated 13 June 2024

This is a statement of the administrative sources used to compile the strategic export control official statistics.

Administrative data refers to information collected primarily for administrative reasons (that is not initially for statistics or research). It is often used for operational purposes and their statistical use is usually secondary.

Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) publish the strategic export control data as official statistics.

Administrative source

At present, 2 administrative sources, SPIRE and LITE, are used to produce the strategic export controls official statistics.

Prior to the 2021 Q3 publication, this release provided data solely from SPIRE. However, with the introduction of LITE in 2021, this release has included data from both SPIRE and LITE from the 2021 Q3 publication onwards – see Dual running 2 administrative sources for further details.

Whilst the 2023 Q1 publication onwards still includes data from both SPIRE and LITE, there are some limitations in how we have published the LITE data for the 2023 Q1, 2023 Q2, 2023 Q3, 2023 Q4 and 2023 reporting periods so comparing figures from these reporting periods with previous reporting periods should be done so with care – see Limitations in how we have published the LITE data for further details.

Dual running 2 administrative sources

ECJU is in the process of introducing a new digital system for export licensing, known as LITE, which will replace its legacy system, SPIRE. LITE aims to streamline the application process for exporters using improved service design and modern technology to support robust licence decision-making.

As LITE functionality is being released incrementally, the ability to publish data from LITE accurately and effectively is still in development. LITE is currently in a Private Beta phase, with exporters trialling it on an invite-only basis, gradually increasing these numbers over time – see Table: Number of LITE licence application outcomes by reporting period for a breakdown of all LITE licence application outcomes included within the strategic export control official statistics from the 2021 Q3 publication onwards.

This has enabled ECJU to manually extract the necessary data from LITE for each case individually, validate and quality assure this, and then manually input this into SPIRE to allow this to be blended with SPIRE data to create an overall view of export licensing decisions within the strategic export control official statistics as well as the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website. However, as we progress the development of this new system, with more exporters invited to use LITE, the number of licensing decisions involved means this manual intervention is becoming unsustainable. Case numbers on LITE will continue to increase as more exporters are brought on board and it becomes the dominant system for export licence applications.

With the introduction of LITE in 2021, this strategic export control official statistics release has included data from both SPIRE and LITE from the 2021 Q3 publication onwards. Whilst the 2023 Q1 publication onwards still includes data from both SPIRE and LITE, due to the impact of the manual intervention currently required, there are some limitations in how we have published the LITE data for the 2023 Q1, 2023 Q2, 2023 Q3, 2023 Q4 and 2023 reporting periods so comparing figures from this reporting period with previous reporting periods should be done so with care.

Limitations in how we have published the LITE data

Strategic export control official statistics

Whilst the 2023 Q1 publication onwards still includes data from both SPIRE and LITE, there are some limitations in how we have published the LITE data for the 2023 Q1, 2023 Q2, 2023 Q3, 2023 Q4 and 2023  reporting periods – any SIEL figures that provide the data broken down by initial processing times (including Number/Percentage of SIELs completed within 20 working days, Number/Percentage of SIELs completed within 60 working days, and Median processing time) do not include SIELs processed in LITE for these reporting periods. In total, there were 229 SIELs closed in LITE during the 2023 Q1 reporting period, 324 SIELs closed in LITE during the 2023 Q2 reporting period, 348 SIELs closed in LITE during the 2023 Q3 reporting period and 386 SIELs closed in LITE during the 2023 Q4 reporting period that have not been included in these figures, accounting for 6%, 8%, 8% and 9% of all SIELs processed (in SPIRE and LITE) respectively.

These limitations are caveated alongside the impacted figures in the publication commentary from the 2023 Q1 publication onwards, as well as within Table B and Table C that accompany the wider publication. Comparing figures from the 2023 Q1, 2023 Q2, 2023 Q3, 2023 Q4 and 2023 reporting periods with previous reporting periods should be done so with care due to these limitations.

Once LITE functionality permits, we will retrospectively publish all data on export licencing decisions made in LITE that was omitted during the transition period to ensure there are no overall reductions in transparency - see Future changes to how we publish the LITE data for further details.

Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website

LITE data will no longer be published on the existing Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website from 2023 onwards. The following is a summary of the LITE related impact on the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website:

• data on export licencing decisions made in LITE prior to 2023 (that is, up to and including 31 December 2022) are included on the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website, except for SIEL end-user types and firearm quantities.

• all data on export licencing decisions made in LITE from 2023 onwards (that is, from 1 January 2023) are not included on the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website.

Once LITE functionality permits, we will retrospectively publish all data on export licencing decisions made in LITE that was omitted during the transition period to ensure there are no overall reductions in transparency - see Future changes to how we publish the LITE data for further details.

Statistics on licencing decisions made in LITE

The following table provides the number of LITE licence application outcomes included within the strategic export control official statistics from the 2021 Q3 publication onwards.

Table: Number of LITE licence application outcomes by reporting period

Period	Issued	Refused	Revoked	No Licence Required	Withdrawn	Stopped	Total
2021 Q3	26	0	0	0	3	0	29
2021 Q4	53	0	0	3	0	0	56
2022 Q1	70	1	0	3	9	0	83
2022 Q2	57	0	1	1	5	0	64
2022 Q3	64	5	0	2	3	0	74
2022 Q4	68	1	0	2	8	0	79
2023 Q1	210	3	0	9	7	0	229
2023 Q2	288	7	0	18	11	0	324
2023 Q3	299	6	0	23	20	0	348
2023 Q4	324	6	0	39	17	0	386

Future changes to how we publish the LITE data

As further LITE functionality is rolled out, we will be able gradually to increase and improve the data published from LITE. This will be an iterative process, but we anticipate a return to current transparency levels by March 2025 at the latest. We will make regular incremental improvements to it as more exporters join LITE’s Private Beta, ahead of an open public rollout planned from March 2024 (Public Beta). We will retrospectively publish all LITE data that was omitted during the transition period to ensure there are no overall reductions in transparency.

We are also using the development of LITE as an opportunity to improve the way we publish data. We will continue to publish the strategic export controls licensing official statistics in the same overall format; but we will be changing and improving the overall format of how we publish data through the searchable database website. These changes are based on research with known users of the searchable database website to make sure the format best meets their needs.

Further details

Further background on this can be found in the following notice to exporters (NTEs):

• NTE 2021/08: LITE

• NTE 2022/02: changes to export licensing statistics

• NTE 2022/15: export controls statistics website data availability.

Collection

This is a short outline of the process through which the system’s underlying ‘raw data’ are captured.

Detail

Exporters have used SPIRE or LITE to apply or register for an export licence since September 2007. This is for military, dual-use or other items controlled for strategic reasons.

Application

This is a description of the main applications or uses to which the administrative or management data are put. This is before they are transformed into official statistics.

Detail

ECJU use the information submitted on licensing applications to make a decision about each licence. The time taken to make licensing decisions is also monitored by ECJU for operational management.

Examples include:

• operational monitoring

• resource allocation

• performance measurement

Access and dissemination

This is a summary of the arrangements put in place for sharing and disseminating the administrative or management data.

This applies:

• inside or outside the organisation

• during the period before they are converted into official statistics

• to dissemination whether via a hardcopy, an intranet, access to a database or other means

The details provided should cover the range, nature and timing of such access.

Detail

We share information from certain licence applications with:

• the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

• Ministry of Defence (MOD)

• Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)

Each provides expert advice to help inform licensing decisions. Parties receive access to the application details via SPIRE or LITE.

Only those with 24-hour pre-release access see the final data before publication. Recipients receive a copy of the statistical publication via email. This is after we have completed processing of the data for publication.

 We inform all departmental users:

• of their responsibilities as data controllers

• that DBT must control the release of any licensing data

Non-statistical publication

This is a summary of any arrangements put in place for placing the administrative data in the public domain. It applies during the period before they are converted into official statistics. This should cover the reason for such publication and the nature and timing of such publication.

Detail

We reference published data first in all instances. We consider administrative data for release under relevant legislation. For example, the Freedom of Information Act or the Data Protection Act). This is if published data do not suffice.

Statistical publication

A listing of each of the ‘official’ or ‘national’ statistics series derived from each system.

Detail

The official statistics publication is strategic export controls: licensing data.

Synergies

A mapping which explains the relationship between any public manifestations of the administrative data, and any subsequent statistical releases or publications.

Detail

The government publishes summary licensing data and licence processing statistics in the annual report on strategic export controls.

DBT compile this report in collaboration with:

• ECJU

• FCDO

• MOD

SPIRE and LITE security and data protection arrangements

The extent to which data is handled in line with data protection protocols and ensuring the orderly release of data.

Detail

Data controllers have access to view and edit individual licences on SPIRE and LITE. The vast majority do not have the functionality to download aggregated data reports. Users in the ECJU policy team have this functionality.

ECJU’s policy team control all releases of data.