Select committee: Committees on Arms Export Controls
Conclusion 24
First Joint Report - Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls
Published 28 Oct 2022
Paragraph 74
Committees on Arms Export Controls UK arms exports in 2019 All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Given the apparent low level of strategic exports and sanctions prosecutions, especially in recent years, we are disappointed that when we asked if the Government had any plans to review the effectiveness of the relevant legislation, they simply stated that enforcement was a matter for HMRC. HMRC are responsible for enforcing the legislation put forward by the Government and passed by Parliament. It is not HMRC’s role to assess the effectiveness of legislation. This is a matter for the Government and if changes are required it is for Parliament to legislate for them.
From: Committees on Arms Export Controls, First Joint Report - Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls (HC 282), paragraph 74, 28 October 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 9 January 2023 (deadline 9 January 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government responds to the Committees' recommendations by noting some conclusions, committing to specific updates and data, and declining several recommendations, including a post-shipment verification pilot and an independent review of the new Criteria.
- On LITE, the government says delivery is being progressed "urgently" and "will commit to ECJU providing the Committees with six-monthly updates on progress".
- On post-shipment verification, it says it "retain[s] an open mind" but "cannot commit to implementing a pilot programme by 2025", citing significant costs, resource and legal, diplomatic and practical issues.
- On the new Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, it is satisfied they provide a thorough risk assessment framework and "does not consider an independent review to be necessary or proportionate".
- HMRC "will provide convictions data for export control violations for inclusion in Annual Reports", but says it cannot agree to give the Committees settlement data, even privately.