HL Deb 04 June 1991 vol 529 c35WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action the United Nations is taking in respect of a register of arms sales as proposed by the Prime Minister.

The Earl of Caithness:

A UN Expert Group has been studying ways to improve transparency in the international transfer of conventional arms, including the establishment of a sales register. Its report, which the UN Secretary General has asked to be accelerated, is expected to be published shortly. We hope that this will provide the basis for a resolution at this year's General Assembly which will lead to the establishment of a register.