HL Deb 22 October 2003 vol 653 c181WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the recent European Union statement calling for the registration of arms brokers. [HL4623]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The EU Council common position on the control of arms brokering, adopted on 23 June 2003, does not call for the registration of arms brokers. Article 4 suggests that member states "may" establish a register of arms brokers, but that "registration or authorisation to act as a broker would in any case not replace the requirement to obtain the necessary licence to written authorisation for each transaction." The Government are not making registration a pre-condition of obtaining an individual licence. Users of open general licences have to pre-register.