§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) United Kingdom, (b) EU, (c) international and (d) other regulations apply to the trading of arms. [72389]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe export of arms from the UK is controlled under the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939. EU arms embargoes are controlled by means of regulations made under the Treaty establishing the European Communities and are directly applicable to all Member States. Licensing, enforcement and penalties for breach of the regulations are provided for in national legislation made under the European Communities Act 1972. United Nations (UN) arms embargoes are implemented in the UK under the UN Act 1946 and the Import, Export and Customs Power (Defence) Act 1939.
In addition, the Export Control Bill contains new powers allowing controls to be imposed on trading of arms between overseas countries.