§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason reference to sustainable development does not appear in the long title of the Export Control Bill. [17428]
§ Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 27 November 2001]: Under the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria the Government are obliged to take into account whether or not a proposed arms export would seriously undermine the economy or seriously hamper the sustainable development of the recipient country. Under clause 8 of the Bill, these criteria are to be treated as published guidance that the Government must have regard to in making licensing decisions. As the Bill requires the Government to continue to take the criteria (which include criterion 8 on sustainable development) into account in licensing decisions, it is unnecessary to mention sustainable development on the face of the Bill.