UN Register of Conventional Arms

HC Deb 21 May 1998 vol 312 cc531-2W

Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom submitted its 1997 return to the UN Register of Conventional Arms; and if copies of the return will be placed in the Library. [43581]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

This Department submitted its return to the UN Register covering conventional arms transfers in calendar year 1997 on the 7 May. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Our return includes information on types of weapons transferred, details of procurement from national production and details of military holdings which, for the first time, include the types of weapons held in six of the seven categories of weapons included on the Register.

We attach great importance to the Register as a confidence building and transparency measure. We will continue to work with our EU partners to encourage as many countries as possible to make a return to the Register.