Source · Select Committees · Committees on Arms Export Controls
Recommendation 3
3
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 25
Whilst we welcome the information contained in the Strategic Export Controls Annual Report, stakeholders argue...
Conclusion
Whilst we welcome the information contained in the Strategic Export Controls Annual Report, stakeholders argue it is too descriptive of events and does not drill down sufficiently to provide qualitative or quantitative analysis of the data. We share stakeholders’ concerns about the transparency of information available on Open Licences, especially as the Government has previously promised to review what further data it can make publicly available. Industry is already required to record this information, so we are unclear as to why the Government has yet to improve the quality of information available.
Government Response Summary
The government expresses gratitude for the committee's perspective and requests more specific input from stakeholders on how to improve data presentation in future publications. It also highlights that data on open licences is already available through its searchable database.
Paragraph Reference:
25
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government is grateful for the Committees’ perspective on the data available in the Strategic Export Controls Annual Report and would welcome more specific information on stakeholders’ views on how to improve the ways in which this data is presented so that we may consider that in the design of future publications. The Government is conscious of the need to balance transparency of information with the administrative burden this transparency places on exporters. Users of open licences are required to make reports on their usage of those licences on an annual basis. This data is reported to ECJU and checked in compliance audits. Data on open licences is available to search on our reports and statistics searchable database. Registration is required to access the database, but it is free of charge.