Arms Transfers (Hansard, 19 September 2002)

§ Nigel Griffiths

I have been asked to reply.

The Export Control Act 2002 will give the Government new powers allowing for controls to be imposed on arms trafficking and brokering.

The Government have proposed to set these powers to establish controls on the supply and delivery, and on acts calculated to promote the supply or delivery, of controlled goods from any overseas country to any arms-embargoed destination, and of long-range missiles and equipment whose export the Government had already banned because of evidence of its use in torture from any overseas country to any other country. These controls will apply where any part of the activities takes place in the United Kingdom and to activities by United Kingdom persons anywhere.

The Government have also proposed to use the new powers in the Export Control Act to establish controls on various activities connected to trade in military equipment whose export is already subject to control. The activities that will be subject to control include acquisition or disposal of goods. They also include arranging a contract 312W for the acquisition or disposal of goods, or doing any act calculated to promote the arranging of such a contract in return for a fee. The controls will apply where any part of the activities takes place in the United Kingdom. The controls will not apply to a person whose sole involvement in the movement of goods is to provide transportation, finance, insurance or general advertising or promotional services.

The Government propose to establish a register of information on all those applying for licences under the Export Control Act, regardless of nationality, both for exports and for the activities described above, thus creating a database available to be used for licensing and enforcement purposes.