§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that all companies involved in the sale, transportation and brokering of arms shipments register with the Department of Trade and Industry. [5886]
§ Mr. LangMy Department's consultative document. "Strategic Export Controls", Cm 3349, presented to Parliament in July, sought views on all aspects of strategic export control procedures and policy, including the possibility of new legislation. Among the specific issues raised was the extent to which any new legislation should seek to control trafficking in undesirable goods or the brokering of such deals. The consultation period closed at the end of October and the Department is currently considering the responses and follow-up action to the consultation. Current procedures in relation to trafficking in arms are also being examined by the interdepartmental committee set up in response to the allegations that UK companies have been linked to the selling of arms to Rwandan extremists in Zaire. The committee's work on this area will contribute to the wider review of strategic export controls already under way.