§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on sustainable development in relation to arms purchasing. [18671]
§ Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 28 November 2001]: Under the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria the Government are currently 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 Export Control Bill, these criteria would be treated as published guidance that the Government must have regard to in making licensing decisions.