UN Register of Conventional Arms: UK's Return

HL Deb 07 July 1997 vol 581 c59WA

Lord Williams of Elvel

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the United Kingdom submitted its 1996 return to the UN Register of Conventional Arms; and whether they will place a copy of the submission in the Library of the House.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

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.