Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Rejected
Legislate binding due diligence for arms manufacturers and prosecute complicit directors.
Recommendation
The Government should legislate to provide for binding due diligence requirements on arms manufacturers. The Government should also make use of existing powers under the International Criminal Court Act (2001) to prosecute directors of arms manufacturers for complicity in war crimes such as those relating to the targeting of aid workers and facilities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 64) Practical protection for aid workers at risk of IHL abuses
Government response summary AI-generated
The government rejects the recommendation, stating it already has a robust export control regime and does not intend to legislate for due diligence requirements. It also states that prosecutions are a matter for independent authorities, which the government cannot direct.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government · verbatim extract
Rejected
74. We disagree with the recommendation on the need for new legislation placing additional requirements on exporters. There is a legal requirement for an exporter to have a valid licence to export arms and the Government has a robust assessment process, which includes keeping extant licences under review and re-assessing exports against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria when circumstances change. The Criteria state that a licence would not be granted or allowed to remain extant, where there was a clear risk that items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law. 75. Our assessments are objective and consistent. We consider information from NGOs, media, our experts in the UK and our overseas networks. Some of this information is unavailable to exporters. Additionally, we respond quickly to changing international situations and are able to suspend, refuse or revoke licences as circumstances require.
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