UN Register of Conventional Arms

HC Deb 03 July 1997 vol 297 c221W

Ms Southworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom submitted its 1996 return to the UN register of Conventional Arms; and if he will place a copy of the submission in the Library. [6916]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The UK's return to the UN Register covering calendar year 1996 was submitted to the UN Secretary General on 29 April 1997. A copy of the return has been placed in the Libraries of the House and is available to members of the public on request.

As part of our commitment to increasing transparency in the field of defence exports, we shall work to strengthen the UN Register of Conventional Arms, encouraging greater disclosure of information on arms exports and arms transfers by all countries. We hope that the work of the UN Panel of Experts currently reviewing the operation and development of the Register will contribute to achieving this objective.