Select committee: Committees on Arms Export Controls
Conclusion 35
First Joint Report - Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls
Published 28 Oct 2022
Paragraph 109
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)
While we fully support the Government prioritising the evacuation of people over the repatriation of equipment, we are concerned about reports of military items that are now in the hands of adversaries following the withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan. We support the decision to remove Afghanistan as a permitted destination for five Open General Export Licences. However, we are concerned that this decision was not taken earlier given the warnings and indications that the Afghan Government would collapse. A key test of the export control system is the ability to adapt to changing situations. We support the continuation of licences for humanitarian demining equipment for NGOs and items for the protection of remaining diplomatic missions and the Government’s commitment to keep the situation under review.
From: Committees on Arms Export Controls, First Joint Report - Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls (HC 282), paragraph 109, 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.