HL Deb 02 March 2000 vol 610 cc85-6WA
Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements are in place to ensure that there are no arms shipments from member states of the European Union to the Democratic Republic of Congo. [HL1205]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The member states of the European Community agreed, in a European Declaration on 7 April 1993, to impose an embargo on the sale of arms to Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Implementation and enforcement of the EU arms embargo is a matter for individual member states.

The EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports requires EU member states to circulate through diplomatic channels details of licences refused. This includes licences for exports which fall within the scope of the DRC arms embargo.

The UK implements this embargo by prohibiting the export to the Democratic Republic of Congo of all goods and technology on the UK Military List which forms Part III of the Export of Goods (Control) Order. HM Customs and Excise is responsible for investigating all suspected breaches of the embargo.

Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements are in place to ensure that there are no brokering activities in member states of the European Union concerned to win the supply of arms to the Democratic Republic of Congo. [HL1206]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Controls on the trafficking and brokering of arms are a matter for individual member states, whose national practices in this area vary widely. The CFSP Working Group on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM) has discussed the possible harmonisation of controls but has not yet reached any conclusions. The UK has contributed actively to the discussions.

The Government's White Paper on strategic export controls (Cm 3989) contains proposals to enable the Government to control the involvement of persons in the UK or UK persons abroad in trafficking and brokering in controlled goods to countries which are the subject of OSCE, EU or UK embargoes or non-binding UN embargoes. (Such controls are already in place in relation to binding UN embargoes). Brokering activities for the supply of arms to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is subject to a full-scope EU arms embargo, would fall within this proposed control.

All proposals contained in the White Paper are under review in light of responses received. Her Majesty's Government are committed to introducing new legislation as soon as time is available in the legislative programme.