§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the German Government's proposals on the regulation of arms brokers in the EU; and what plans he has in this respect. [70338]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe welcome the German Government's decision to raise with EU partners the question of controls on trafficking and brokering in strategic goods. This is in line with the recommendation in the Trade and Industry Committee's Report on Strategic Export Controls of December 1998 (HC 65) that the benefits and potential pitfalls of some multilaterally agreed form of licensing or registration of arms dealers be explored within the EU.
The German proposals differ in a number of respects from the Government's proposals for controls on trafficking and brokering as set out in the White Paper on Strategic Export Controls presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in July 1998 (Cm 3989). The Government are reviewing the White Paper proposals in the light of comments by respondents to the White Paper, and will also take into account the progress of discussions in the EU.