§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider providing that final approval for licences for arms exports to Governments with poor human rights is made by a parliamentary Select Committee. [5879]
§ Mr. LangThe issues of parliamentary scrutiny and the location of the export licensing authority within Government are matters on which views were sought in my Department's consultative document "Strategic Export Controls" (Cm. 3349) which was presented to Parliament in July. The consultation period closed at the end of October and the Department is currently considering the responses and follow-up action to the consultation.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will impose an export licence requirement prior to negotiation of each individual arms transfer. [5887]
§ 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. The consultation period closed at the end of October and the Department is currently considering the responses and follow-up action to the consultation.