HC Deb 12 January 1999 vol 323 cc151-2W
Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy that arms brokering is made subject to licensed approval under the same criteria as those contained in the EU Code of Conduct. [64536]

Mr. Wills

[holding answer 11 January 1999]: The White Paper on Strategic Export Controls, which was published on 1 July 1998, contains proposals to extend controls on trafficking and brokering in a number of areas. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Ms Jones) on 14 December 1998, official report, column 364, in which she set out the Government's proposals.

A variety of views have been expressed on these proposals, with a number of respondents to the White Paper suggesting wider controls in this area than those which the Government have proposed. We are currently reviewing all the proposals contained in the White Paper in the light of the responses received.

Mr. Stinchcombe

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans the Government have to legislate to implement the recommendations of the Scott report; [65001]

(2) what plans the Government have to review licensing requirements for strategic arms exports. [65002]

Mr. Wills

The White Paper on Strategic Export Controls, which was published on 1 July 1998, contained the Government's proposals in response to the recommendations on strategic export controls made by Sir Richard Scott. It also contained a number of proposals for new licensing requirements, including the extension of controls on the trafficking and brokering of goods in certain circumstances, and the introduction of controls on the transfer of technology by intangible means.

We are currently reviewing the White Paper proposals in the light of responses to it. The Government aim to introduce new primary legislation as soon as there is time in the legislative programme.