ARMS CONTROLS

Early day motion 1244, tabled 19 May 2003 by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 44 members.

That this House notes that many of the weapons and ammunition used to commit countless human rights abuse throughout the world are obtained through international arms transfers; further notes that under current legislation arms brokers only have to apply for a licence when operating in the United Kingdom, and off-shore brokering deals are only controlled if they are destined for an embargoed country or involve the transfer of equipment used in torture or long-range missiles; believes that unscrupulous arms bodies can avoid all controls on their activities by briefly leaving the country to conduct their business and that ensuring controls on the activities of British arms deals overseas would offer the government an opportunity to cut off one important potential line of supply to terrorist networks and governments that abuse human rights; and calls on the Government to close the existing loophole by applying full extraterritorial controls on all deals conducted by United Kingdom arms brokers and to reserve the right to veto the re-export of United Kingdom military components.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 14, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, Labour/Co-operative 2.