FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release issued by The Government News
Network on 24 July 2007
Commenting on the
publication of the 10th Annual Report on Strategic Export
Controls, Foreign Office Minister, Dr Kim Howells, said:
"The Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls was
introduced by this Government to enable Parliament and the public
to hold us to account. This will be the Government's tenth
report (the first was published in 1997). The annual report and
our regular in-year quarterly reports are recognised worldwide as
models for open and comprehensive presentations of strategic
export control policy. We are proud of our defence export
licensing system, which is one of the most rigorous in the world.
"The Government has recently announced a major review of
export control secondary legislation, which will consider both the
effectiveness of current controls and the case for further change.
We co-operate fully with the relevant parliamentary committees
that scrutinise export control decisions.
"We have a productive dialogue with the NGOs who play a
useful role in highlighting the humanitarian and economic costs of
unregulated trade in arms. We also foster a good relationship with
the UK defence industry.
"Since 2005 the UK has promoted
the moral, humanitarian and developmental case for a
legally-binding international Arms Trade Treaty to tackle this
trade more effectively. We have already secured broad support for
work towards a treaty within the United Nations (153 countries
voted in December 2006 to start a UN process in the UN General
Assembly). Since then, over 90 countries have submitted specific
ideas on the shape and scope of a treaty to the UN Secretary
General. The UK will continue to push for an arms trade treaty in
the coming years to make it a reality".
Notes for Editors:
The Government's 2006 Annual Report on Strategic Export
Controls is published today 24 July 2007 as a Command Paper.
Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the Houses of
Parliament. The Report describes UK policy and international
developments in export control regimes, as well as including
information on licensing decisions made during 2006.
The report will be available on the FCO website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391422
Press Office, Downing Street (West), London SW1A 2AL