HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 c147W
Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the new European Code of Conduct on arms sales will ensure that signatories will open their arms sales to parliamentary scrutiny. [43170]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

No. Different Member States have different practices in this respect. It would not have been realistic to propose a Code which sought to dictate Member States' internal licensing procedures.

Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation will take place under the European Code of Conduct on arms sales before one member state accepts an arms contract that has been turned down on ethical grounds by another. [43174]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The Code of Conduct specified that before any Member State grants an export licence which has been denied in accordance with the Code by another Member State or States for an essentially identical transaction within the past three years, it will first consult the Member State or States issuing the denial(s).