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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 grateful to the Minister for giving way; he is being generous with his time. I do not doubt for a second the professionalism and commitment of the officials who make such decisions, and I do not doubt that it is best to do things properly at the beginning when deciding whether to grant a licence. However, examples have been given to show that, on the best information possible, it is still the case that arms can be exported to country A and subsequently from country A to a destination about which nothing was known, and one that we would have been appalled at if we had known. A re-export clause, as used by other countries, would surely send the clear signal that that would not be acceptable, and that we would re-examine their future licence applications far more rigorously. Why can we not do that?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
490 c170WH 
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