UK arms exports in 2019
Committees on Arms Export Controls
Closed
Inquiry
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 …
Read more
34
Recommendations
12
Conclusions
1
Report
6
Oral sessions
7
Letters
6
Events
Activity timeline 21 events
7 Sep
2023
2023
24 May
2023
2023
4 Apr
2023
2023
9 Jan
2023
2023
28 Oct
2022
2022
Report published
20 Oct
2022
2022
20 Oct
2022
2022
20 Oct
2022
2022
20 Oct
2022
2022
10 Feb
2022
2022
Oral evidence
10 Feb
2022
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
16 Nov
2021
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
10 Feb 2022
View on parliament.uk
Ranil Jayawardena MP · Department for International Trade
Rt Hon James Cleverly MP · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
16 Nov 2021
View on parliament.uk
Joanne Cheetham · HM Revenue and Customs
Richard Las · HM Revenue and Customs
29 Jun 2021
View on parliament.uk
David Lorello · Covington and Burling LLP
Dr Clara Portela · University of Valencia
Fenella McGerty · International Institute for Strategic Studies
18 May 2021
View on parliament.uk
Andrew Kinniburgh · Make UK Defence
Nick Radiven · Prospect
16 Mar 2021
View on parliament.uk
Dr Andrea Edoardo Varisco · Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Dr Sibylle Bauer · Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Kolja Brockmann · Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Joint Report - Developments in UK Strategic Export Contro… | HC 282 | 28 Oct 2022 | 46 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
5
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First Joint Report - Developments…
We share our predecessor committees’ concerns over the continued delays in delivering the new LITE...
We share our predecessor committees’ concerns over the continued delays in delivering the new LITE IT system. The rollout of the new LITE IT system must be progressed urgently. In response to our report the Government should set out a …
Read more
Government Response
The government stated that the LITE IT service is being progressed urgently and is a live, functioning service being delivered in phases. It committed to providing six-monthly updates on progress but did not provide a specific timeline for each transition stage or the full operational date.
9
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First Joint Report - Developments…
It is also disappointing that the Government has not published terms of reference outlining the...
It is also disappointing that the Government has not published terms of reference outlining the aims and remit of the ECJU Transformation Programme. The Government should publish the terms of reference for the ECJU Transformation Programme, and provide us with …
Read more
Government Response
The government declined to publish formal terms of reference, stating the Transformation Programme is internal and its aims were already communicated. However, it committed to providing the committee with regular updates on the transformation and its continuous improvement activities.
10
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First Joint Report - Developments…
We welcome the consultation that has taken place with the unions.
We welcome the consultation that has taken place with the unions. This must continue and the Government must ensure that they draw on the expertise of ECJU staff at all levels. We also welcome the customer survey of exporters. However, …
Read more
Government Response
The government stated the Transformation Programme is internal but committed to creating a new dedicated team and stakeholder engagement strategy in 2023 to establish formal mechanisms for consistent industry engagement. It did not commit to a broader public consultation.
15
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First Joint Report - Developments…
In response to our report, the Government should set out which countries’ systems, from inside...
In response to our report, the Government should set out which countries’ systems, from inside and outside the EU, that it considered when drafting the new Criteria. The Government should also explain the processes it has put in place to …
Read more
Government Response
The government stated it benchmarked against the US, Germany, France, and Sweden when developing its approach. However, it rejected the recommendation for an independent review as unnecessary and disproportionate, and did not explain processes for continued EU cooperation.
17
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First Joint Report - Developments…
We welcome the increase in trained Compliance Inspectors mentioned in the 2021 Annual Report.
We welcome the increase in trained Compliance Inspectors mentioned in the 2021 Annual Report. In response to our report the Government should give further details of this increase in Inspectors, including the numbers of Inspectors employed, details of the work …
Read more
Government Response
The government provides details of five current Compliance Inspectors and the recruitment of three more, stating their current focus on priority intelligence-led visits, but does not explain how they are measuring the impact of this change.
19
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
First Joint Report - Developments…
We are concerned by the increase in recent years of the numbers of companies found...
We are concerned by the increase in recent years of the numbers of companies found to be non-compliant after a revisit and the lack of information given in the Annual Reports on specific companies and countries for findings of non-compliance. …
Read more
Government Response
The government defends its robust compliance approach and states the effectiveness of visits is demonstrated by reduced non-compliance on revisits. It also commits to reviewing the methodology of reporting in future Annual Reports to better demonstrate visit effectiveness, partially addressing the committee's concern about information.
22
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First Joint Report - Developments…
We are also troubled by the concerns expressed regarding the level of technical knowledge within...
We are also troubled by the concerns expressed regarding the level of technical knowledge within ECJU and the reported reduction in technical experts accompanying compliance officers on compliance visits. We recommend that the ECJU ensure that technical experts accompany compliance …
Read more
Government Response
The government states that ECJU plans to reintroduce technical experts attending in-person compliance audits where beneficial, but does not explicitly commit to a greater number or a review of overall expertise levels within the Transformation Programme.
Government Response AI assessment · 46 of 34 classified
Accepted
15
Acknowledged
14
Deferred
5
Rejected
3
Total
34 recs + 12 conclusions
Correspondence 7 letters
7 Sep 2023
Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Trade, updating on the work of ECJU, dated 29 August 2023
Parliament page
24 May 2023
Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the Government Response to CAEC’s Report: 'Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls', dated 12/05/2023 and 30/03/2023
Parliament page
4 Apr 2023
Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the Government Response to CAEC’s October 2022 Report
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
Annex A: Correspondence with the FCDO and DIT, dated 31 May 2022
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
Annex B: Correspondence with the FCDO and DIT, dated 31 May 2022
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
Correspondence from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development and the Department for International Trade, dated 31 May 2022
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
Annex C: Correspondence with the FCDO and DIT, dated 31 May 2022
Parliament page