HC Deb 15 February 2000 vol 344 c488W
27. Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to arms sales to other countries. [108557]

31. Mr. Hammond

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the application of his ethical criteria to decisions on arms sales. [108561]

Mr. Hain

This Government have introduced fundamental changes in the UK's approach to arms exports, while maintaining our commitment to a strong defence industry. We introduced tough new criteria for export licensing. We will not issue a licence if there is a clearly identifiable risk the equipment will be used for internal repression or external aggression. We banned the export of equipment that has been used in torture. We worked for, and got, agreement on an EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports which is recognised by other member states as the touchstone of EU policy on arms exports. We have started publishing Annual Reports—deliberately inviting scrutiny.

Back to
Forward to