Defence Sales Review

HC Deb 07 July 1997 vol 297 cc330-1W

Sir George Young

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will announce the timetable for the defence sales policy review. [6647]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The review of criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms is being taken forward as a matter of urgency. The new criteria will be made available to the House when the review is complete.

Sir George Young

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the criteria for arms sales and the countries affected by the defence sales policy review. [6646]

Mr. Lloyd

As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 22 May,Official Report, column 294, we have initiated an urgent review of the detailed criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms. The new criteria will be made available to the House when the review is complete. As we have made clear repeatedly, the review is looking at criteria to be used for all destinations and does not focus on particular countries.