§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to introduce to combat the trafficking or brokering of arms to countries involved in conflict situations; and if he will make a statement. [5369]
§ Mr. lang[holding answer 21 November 1996]The extent to which any new legislation should seek to control trafficking in undesirable goods or the brokering of such deals is one of the matters on which my Department's consultative document, "Strategic Export Controls" (Cm. 3349) presented to Parliament in July, sought views. The consultation period closed at the end of October and the Department is currently considering the responses and follow-up action to the consultation. Current procedures in relation to trafficking in arms are also being examined by the interdepartmental committee set up in response to the allegations that UK companies have been linked to the selling of arms to Rwandan extremists in Zaire. The committee's work on this area will contribute to the wider review of strategic export controls, which is already under way.