PRESS RELEASE

29 March 2001

  Arms Bill Must Not Stall 

Arms campaigners in the UK today welcomed the long-awaited publication of a draft Export Control Bill but challenged the Government to ensure the Bill is in the next Queen’s Speech.

Five years after the Scott Report, which called for an urgent and comprehensive overhaul of strategic export controls, UK arms exports continue to be governed by legislation introduced under emergency powers in 1939.  The draft Bill aims to update and strengthen UK export controls by putting the guidelines and criteria currently used to judge export licence applications on a statutory footing.

“The draft Bill is a welcome starting point but there is still work to do.  We look forward to an effective consultation process to ensure the legislation fully prevents UK involvement in arms transfers to regions of conflict or human rights crisis zones.” Said Liz Clegg, Arms Programme Manager at Saferworld, an independent foreign affairs think tank.

Members of the UK Working Group on Arms, which has repeatedly called for new legislation to regulate arms transfers, will participate fully in the consultation process and put pressure on the Government to drive the process forward.

“This is an important step forward in honouring the Governments commitments on the control of arms.  But this draft Bill must be turned into legislation at the earliest opportunity.  The Government must act now to stop British arms contributing to the annual toll of half a million civilians killed by small arms. ” said Justin Forsyth, Policy Director, Oxfam GB.

For further information contact:
Vanessa Haines, Saferworld – 020 7881 9290, mobile 07879 648 957
Helen Palmer, Oxfam – 01865 312375
Brendan Paddy, Amnesty International UK – 020 7814 6240
Christina Torsein, BASIC – 0207 407 2977
Damian Lilly, International Alert – 020 7793 8383

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