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Arms Export Controls

End use will always cause issues within decisions made on applications. Clearly, having as much information as possible is useful to that process. I can assure my hon. Friend that, as he said himself, a very rigorous process goes on at the moment and that the embassies and Foreign Office staff are very closely involved in that process when applications are made. I was asked about transit and transhipment. During the review that has taken place relating to that issue, and following concerns raised by key stakeholders, we have strengthened controls on transit and trans-shipment. The controls have been aligned with the new three-tier trade control structure, which varies the level of control, depending on the risks associated with the goods and destinations. I will write to hon. Members on the number of goods seized in transit, because I do not have full details of the numbers today. We heard about the visit to Ukraine. I can confirm that Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is still conducting an inquiry into the circumstances of the matters raised as a result of that visit. I can assure members of the Committees that I will explore exactly where that investigation is at present. It is clearly in everyone's interests that matters be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible. I shall come back to the Committees on that matter as soon as I can. I heard the concerns of the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling relating to China and the attendance at the defence systems and equipment international exhibition. The attendance at DSEI does not in any way undermine the embargo that exists between Her Majesty's Government and China. Although I am not aware of the precise circumstances, that invitation does not in any way undermine the embargo. We heard reference to the position in Guinea and the very unfortunate regime in existence there. That example shows how an embargo is crucial when dealing with countries of that nature and how we must be extremely rigorous in our approach when dealing with any suspicion whatever of items being passed on to countries with very questionable human rights reputations.