HC Deb 08 July 1992 vol 211 c208W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on how Her Majesty's Government believe the United Nations international conventional arms transfer register will play an important role in safeguarding against diversion of significant military material.

Mr. Needham

The United Nations register will show each year member states' exports to and imports from individual countries in certain major categories of arms, for example missiles and missile systems. One of the register's main purposes is to provide transparency in the trading of such items. The availability of this information to all member states will make it possible to trace the movement of significant military material, and to compare declared exports against declared imports. It is hoped therefore that the need to report transfers will act as a deterrent to those who would otherwise divert supplies of such equipment.