Recommendation 1

We are disappointed at the continued reluctance of the Government to offer the Foreign and International Trade Secretaries of State to provide us with oral evidence. This risks giving the impression that the Government do not attach the appropriate importance to parliamentary scrutiny of strategic export controls. While we appreciate that other ministers from the relevant departments have agreed to give evidence, we expect the Government to be more accommodating in offering suitable dates for ministerial sessions. The offer of a one-hour session is unacceptable, given the breadth and importance of the issues covered by the Committees.