§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the introduction of extra territorial powers to control British arms brokers operating overseas. [153516]
§ Dr. HowellsThe 1998 White Paper on Strategic Export Controls (Cm 3989) proposed that new primary legislation should give the Government powers to impose controls on the involvement of persons in the UK or UK persons abroad in trafficking and brokering in arms and other controlled goods. The White Paper proposed the introduction of controls under this power on trafficking and brokering activities by persons in the UK or UK persons abroad which involve the supply of arms to countries subject to UN, EU, OSCE or UK national embargo, and the supply of long-range missiles and of 643W equipment whose export has already been banned because of evidence of its use in torture. In addition, the Government have decided, as part of its review of the White Paper proposals, to introduce a general system of licensing for arms trafficking and brokering, the details of which will be set out when the draft Export Control Bill is published.