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Select Committee · Committees on Arms Export Controls

UK arms exports in 2019

Status: Closed Opened: 9 Feb 2021 Closed: 9 Jan 2023 34 recommendations 12 conclusions 1 report

The Committees on Arms Export Controls are examining the Government’s 2019 Strategic Export Controls Annual Report (published in November 2020), with a focus on enforcement and compliance matters. This inquiry will build on issues identified during the scoping evidence sessions that CAEC has undertaken since it was re-established. Read the call for evidence for more …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Joint Report - Developments in UK Strategic Export C… HC 282 28 Oct 2022 46 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
4 Recommendation First Joint Report - Developments in U… Deferred

We recommend that the Government improve the data that is available on Open Licences.

We recommend that the Government improve the data that is available on Open Licences. The Government should publish data in the quarterly “pivot reports” on the precise equipment and quantities exported, the companies exporting the equipment and its intended destination, and each Strategic Export Controls Annual Report should include an …

Government response. The government states that current systems cannot provide precise equipment and quantity data for OIELs. It commits to considering what data would be most valuable for transparency when OIELs functionality is added to the new LITE system at a later …
16 Recommendation First Joint Report - Developments in U… Deferred

We acknowledge that the EU arms control rules (other than the dual-use items) in Common...

We acknowledge that the EU arms control rules (other than the dual-use items) in Common Position 2008/944/CFSP are part of the CFSP, rather than trade policy, and could therefore have been included in an EU/UK foreign policy agreement but that the UK Government rejected such an agreement. However, we are …

Government response. The government acknowledges benefits from EU information sharing but defers any action, stating that future cooperation would be subject to broader UK-EU negotiations and could only take place in that context.
42 Recommendation First Joint Report - Developments in U… Deferred

We acknowledge that the decisions regarding the sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014, that made...

We acknowledge that the decisions regarding the sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014, that made the export of specified equipment for use in the oil industry in Russia subject to a licence, were made at an EU level. However now the UK has left the EU, in response to our …

Government response. The government will respond to this recommendation in a classified annex.
43 Recommendation First Joint Report - Developments in U… Deferred

We accept the Government’s assertion that it keeps all licences under review and that they...

We accept the Government’s assertion that it keeps all licences under review and that they have the power to suspend, refuse or revoke licences as circumstances require. However, we also accept the considerable and longstanding concerns over arms exports to Israel especially where they might be used in the Occupied …

Government response. The government will respond to this recommendation in a classified annex.
46 Recommendation First Joint Report - Developments in U… Deferred

The rapid advancement of new technologies such as spyware is a major challenge for export...

The rapid advancement of new technologies such as spyware is a major challenge for export control regimes. Given the Government’s assertion that it is inappropriate to move intrusion software and related licensable goods and technology into Category A of the UK’s trade controls system, in response to our report the …

Government response. The government will respond to this recommendation in a classified annex.

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
10 Feb 2022 Ranil Jayawardena MP · Department for International Trade, Rt Hon James Cleverly MP · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office View ↗
16 Nov 2021 Joanne Cheetham · HM Revenue and Customs, Richard Las · HM Revenue and Customs View ↗
29 Jun 2021 David Lorello · Covington and Burling LLP, Dr Clara Portela · University of Valencia, Fenella McGerty · International Institute for Strategic Studies View ↗
18 May 2021 Andrew Kinniburgh · Make UK Defence, Nick Radiven · Prospect View ↗
20 Apr 2021 Mike Lewis · Conflict Armament Research View ↗
16 Mar 2021 Dr Andrea Edoardo Varisco · Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Dr Sibylle Bauer · Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Kolja Brockmann · Stockholm International Peace Research Institute View ↗

Correspondence

7 letters
DateDirectionTitle
7 Sep 2023 — Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Trade, updating on …
24 May 2023 — Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the Govern…
4 Apr 2023 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the Govern…
20 Oct 2022 — Annex A: Correspondence with the FCDO and DIT, dated 31 May 2022
20 Oct 2022 — Annex B: Correspondence with the FCDO and DIT, dated 31 May 2022
20 Oct 2022 — Correspondence from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development and the Department …
20 Oct 2022 — Annex C: Correspondence with the FCDO and DIT, dated 31 May 2022