§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 135, if he will publish a detailed list stating each of the criteria which will be the subject of his review, a list of those countries where concerns have been expressed that United Kingdom supplied defence equipment has been used for internal repression; and if he will define what he means by international stability. [2225]
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§ Mr. Tony LloydThe existing criteria against which officials consider licence applications for the export of conventional arms are contained in this Department's guidance booklet for desk officers, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Specific concerns have been expressed in the media and elsewhere about a range of countries where UK defence equipment may have been used for internal repression. The review will not, however, focus on individual countries. Its purpose is to meet our commitment not to permit the sale of arms to any regime which might use them for internal repression or international aggression. It is the latter which requires officials to consider implications of a proposed export of arms for international stability, taking into account inter alia the effect on regional tension and stability and any existing armed conflict.