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Proceeding contribution from Roger Berry (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 26 March 2009. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Arms Export Controls.


Arms Export Controls

I am extremely grateful for that intervention. I withdraw my comment without reservation. The hon. Gentleman is right. India does have form in relation to Burma, and I have been far too kind to the Government. I hope that the record will be corrected by my comments. When we have raised the issue of re-exports in the past, the obvious retort is, "What would this measure actually do?" At the least, it would send a signal that we do not want British arms to be re-exported to countries that are subject to an arms embargo. Furthermore, future export licence applications from country A would be in jeopardy if they went against our contractual wishes on re-exporting. Other countries add re-export clauses to their export licences, and there is a clear moral argument for doing so. Given all the challenges facing arms export control, sticking in a re-export clause cannot be the most difficult. Will the Government consider the proposal again, and not dismiss it as they have done in the past?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
490 c146WH 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
Westminster Hall
Subjects
Arms trade Licensing Export controls Parliamentary scrutiny Regulation
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk