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
14 results
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
We are disappointed at the continued reluctance of the Government to offer the Foreign and...
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 …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the committee's important scrutiny role and commitment to engagement, referencing a recent ministerial visit and regretting past scheduling issues, but did not commit to offering the named Secretaries of State for oral evidence or longer sessions.
3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
Whilst we welcome the information contained in the Strategic Export Controls Annual Report, stakeholders argue...
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 …
Read more
Government Response
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.
6
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
A new IT system should not reduce the amount of publicly available information.
A new IT system should not reduce the amount of publicly available information. We seek assurances that the LITE system will enable greater transparency on Open Licences and include a public searchable database as exists under the current SPIRE system. …
Read more
Government Response
The government states that a core design objective of the LITE system is to support transparency objectives and enable scrutiny of the licensing process by stakeholders, but it does not provide specific assurances on features like a public searchable database or enhanced search facilities.
7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
We appreciate the hard and diligent work of ECJU staff during the Covid pandemic.
We appreciate the hard and diligent work of ECJU staff during the Covid pandemic. We recognise that this has been a busy time for the ECJU, with COVID related delays causing additional difficulties.
Government Response
The government appreciated the committee's recognition of ECJU staff's efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and elaborated on how the unit maintained services and supported exporters during that challenging period.
13
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
We are concerned about the lack of consultation on the new Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
We are concerned about the lack of consultation on the new Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. While we note that previous changes to the criteria have not Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls 45 been subject to formal consultation, we believe …
Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's conclusions regarding the lack of consultation on new Strategic Export Licensing Criteria and explains the rationale for the amendments made, citing alignment with international obligations and strategic objectives.
14
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
We thank the Secretary of State for International Trade for writing to us setting out...
We thank the Secretary of State for International Trade for writing to us setting out the background to the new Criteria. However, we would have appreciated prior notification and consultation on the changes. Prior scrutiny of, and consultation on, these …
Read more
Government Response
The government noted the committee's conclusion and explained that discussions about the changes to the Criteria only began late in 2021, leading to the decision to amend them without prior consultation.
20
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
In response to our report, the ECJU should give greater detail and analysis on the...
In response to our report, the ECJU should give greater detail and analysis on the reasons identified for companies being found to be non-compliant, especially after a revisit. This analysis should also be included in future editions of the Annual …
Read more
Government Response
The government explains that GDPR and confidentiality restrictions limit the release of identifying information but commits to considering how best to present information in future Annual Reports to improve transparency of the compliance process within these constraints.
27
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
Despite the Government undertaking to examine the possibility of establishing a system of post-shipment verification...
Despite the Government undertaking to examine the possibility of establishing a system of post-shipment verification for UK exports, no progress appears to have been made. While we fully understand the pressures of, and the need to respond Developments in UK …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the value of post-shipment verification and is continuing to explore how it might undertake PSV activity in the future, promising an update when available.
28
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
We do not envisage a UK post-shipment system as replacing the need for stringent checks...
We do not envisage a UK post-shipment system as replacing the need for stringent checks and robust application of the licensing criteria at the application stage. Rather such a system should be seen as complementary to the pre-licence checks and …
Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the value of post-shipment verification as a complement to pre-licensing checks and is continuing to explore how it might undertake PSV activity in the future and will provide an update to the Committees as soon as it is in a position to do so.
29
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
While recognising that it is not practicable to carry out post-shipment verification for all exports,...
While recognising that it is not practicable to carry out post-shipment verification for all exports, we recommend that the Government instigate a pilot programme by 2025 of post-shipment verification. This should include on-site inspections to examine the resource implications and …
Read more
Government Response
The government is continuing to explore how it might undertake post-shipment verification activity in the future and will provide an update to the Committees as soon as it is in a position to do so.
30
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
We welcome the inclusion of an export controls section in the FCDO’s annual Human Rights...
We welcome the inclusion of an export controls section in the FCDO’s annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. However, consideration of human rights should also be better mainstreamed into future Strategic Export Controls Annual Reports. We recommend that future Strategic …
Read more
Government Response
The government will consider how future Strategic Export Controls Annual Reports can best demonstrate how it takes the list of human rights priority countries into account in licensing decisions and exercising export controls, without compromising national security or commercial confidentiality.
34
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
We commend the UK Government for voting in favour of renewing the mandate of the...
We commend the UK Government for voting in favour of renewing the mandate of the Group of Experts on Yemen. However, we are alarmed that the majority of international delegates voted to end the mandate. We urge the Government to …
Read more
Government Response
The Government welcomes the commendation for its vote and notes the alarm that the mandate failed, stating they continue to work with international partners to explore alternative ways to ensure continued monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Yemen.
35
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
While we fully support the Government prioritising the evacuation of people over the repatriation of...
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. …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the concerns about military items in the hands of adversaries in Afghanistan and notes the committee's support for removing Afghanistan as a permitted destination for Open General Export Licences.
44
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Joint Report - Developments…
The quickening pace of technology advancements and the expected changes in the character of conflict...
The quickening pace of technology advancements and the expected changes in the character of conflict will require swift and holistic action to ensure that the current international approach to technology governance remains fit-for-purpose. (Paragraph 134) 50 Developments in UK Strategic …
Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's conclusion regarding technology governance and states that discussions about changes to the Criteria began in late 2021, leading to amendments aligning them with international legal obligations and strategic export objectives.
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