§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are currently taking place with(a) the United Nations, (b) the European Union or (c) other international forums on means of restricting the arms trade.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe United Kingdom strongly supports international efforts to promote responsibility in arms exports. Last month in the first committee of the UN General Assembly, the EU tabled a draft resolution proposing a UN code of conduct on conventional arms transfers. But after considerable opposition from other delegations, the draft resolution was withdrawn. An EU working group on conventional arms exports meets regularly. We are currently involved in multilateral negotiations on proposed new arrangements to promote transparency and responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and sensitive dual-use goods.