HC Deb 24 July 1997 vol 298 c703W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to increase the transparency and accountability of decisions on defence export licences. [10364]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

We are committed to increase transparency and introduce more stringent controls over defence exports, including publishing an annual report on UK strategic exports. We will also press for a European register of arms exports to make information on arms exports available at a European level, and work to strengthen the UN Register of Conventional Arms.

We are considering how best to take forward these commitments.