Export Control Quarterly Report

The Committee on Strategic Export Controls (known as the Quadripartite Committee) is made up of members of the Defence, Foreign Affairs, International Development and Trade and Industry Committees. It began regular scrutiny of the Government's policy on the export control system in 1999, and this report includes a detailed examination of the operation and enforcement of strategic export controls run by the Export Control Organisation and HM Revenue & Customs. It also considers issues raised by particular licences, including whether the policy on licence approvals or refusals is consistent and determined in accordance with the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and the National Export Licensing Criteria. The Committee held five evidence sessions in the course of its inquiry, including evidence from officials from the DTI and FCO, HMRC and the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office, members of the Export Group on Aerospace and Defence (EGAD) and the UK Working Group on Arms, as well as from Mark Thomas, broadcaster and journalist. Amongst the Committee's 83 conclusions and recommendations, the report raises concerns about the loopholes in regulations relating to internet arms sales and to arms fairs, as well as 'dual-use' equipment (that could have both a civilian and a military purpose). It also calls for greater clarity in the policy on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Israel, given human rights concerns; and it argues that the arms embargo on China should remain and that the Government should work with the EU and the United States to ensure the embargo remains effective. The report also raises concerns about the reporting and status of strategic export controls to and from the Channel Islands, given that they are not subject to the Export Control Act 2002; and recommends that the Export Control Organisation should remain within the public sector under government control. The report notes that the Government's review of arms control rules scheduled for 2007 provides a timely opportunity to take stock of developments in the UK's export control system since the Scott Inquiry into exports to Iraq in 1996, and in light of the challenge of increased globalisation of the defence industry, and that it will also be a critical year for progress on the International Arms Trade Treaty.

The joint committee is known as the Committees on Arms Export Controls, formerly the Quadripartite Committee. The UK strategic export controls annual report 2008 was published as Cm. 7662 (ISBN 9780101766227)

This is the first joint report on arms export controls since the present Government took office in May 2010. As in previous years, the report reviews the Government's policy on arms exports, its administration and enforcement, and the adequacy or otherwise of current legislation. This year the Committees have paid particular attention to the Government's policy of intensifying the promotion of arms exports. The policy has come under scrutiny following the uprisings and demonstrations in recent weeks in North Africa and the wider Middle East and the armed response made to them. Since January 2011 the Government has been vigorously backpedalling on a number of arms export licence approvals to authoritarian regimes across the region. The MPs conclude that both the present Government and its predecessor misjudged the risk that arms approved for export to certain authoritarian countries in North Africa and the Middle East might be used for internal repression. The Committees welcome the revocation of a number of arms export licences to Bahrain, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, and recommend that the Government extends immediately its review of UK arms export licences for countries in North Africa and the wider Middle East to authoritarian regimes worldwide. The Government should also set out how it intends to reconcile the potential conflict of interest between increased emphasis on promoting arms exports with the staunch upholding of human rights.

The 2013 Report of the Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC) scrutinizes the Government's arms exports and arms control policies and practices in unprecedented depth and detail.The scrutiny encompasses the Government's quarterly information on arms export licences, arms export control legislation and procedures, organisational and operational issues, Arms Export Agreements, Arms Control Agreements, arms export control policies, and arms exports to Countries of concern. There are over 3,000 Government approved export licences, worth more than GBP12 billion, for strategic controlled goods going to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 27 countries of human rights concern. Five other countries not on the FCO's list are also covered, including Argentina, which is of concern because of its policy towards the Falkland Islands. The Committees adhere to their previous recommendation that the Government should apply significantly more cautious judgements when considering arms export licence applications for goods to authoritarian regimes which might be used to facilitate internal repression in contravention of the Government's stated policy.

A Memorandum from the Chair of the Committees is contained in Volume 2, and Oral and additional Written Evidence is contained in Volume 3, available on the Committees' website at www.parliament.uk/caeccomm. The UK strategic export controls annual report 2012 published as HC 561, session 2013-14 (ISBN 9780102983548)

Dated July 2011. Responses to 1st joint report from the Committees, HC 686, session 2010-11 (ISBN 9780215558992)