John Battle MP Urges Stronger Controls On Arms Exports To Developing Countries

John has urged stronger controls to stop arms sales being foisted on third world countries struggling in poverty and international debt.

”Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has promised to consider a call for rules about criteria for Government backing for arms sales to be applied to all developing countries and not just the poorest and most highly indebted – I was pleased with his reply to my question,” said John.
”Subsidised insurance cover for arms sales encourages sales which could damage poor countries’ development – they can end up even more in debt and owing money and without enough money to tackle poverty.

”John welcomed UK arms export policy moves balancing a country's legitimate right to self-defence with a moral duty to ensure British arms are not used to harm innocent civilians or waste scarce resources for the fight against poverty. He is leading Commons calls for new criteria to be extended to developing countries to dissuade them from taking on unsustainable debt.

John tabled two Early Day Motions with cross party support.

EDM 679 Arms Exports to Developing Countries

That this House notes that good progress has been made in the last decade on a United Kingdom arms exports policy that balances a country's legitimate right to self-defence with a moral duty to ensure that British arms are not used to harm innocent civilians; further notes, though, there is still more that can be done to promote a more effective and a more responsible policy that takes into account British interests and also those of the recipient country; recognises that the Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) subsidised insurance cover for arms sales, and encourages both arms companies and recipient countries to pursue arms sales that may not otherwise be economically viable and which can negatively impact on the sustainable development of the recipient countries; welcomes the Government's productive expenditure criteria for ECGD cover to Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC countries) and believes that an extension of these productive expenditure criteria for arms sales from just the HIPC countries to all International Development Association (IDA) countries would dissuade recipient countries from taking on unsustainable debt and so provide them with more resources to tackle poverty; and therefore calls on the Government to extend the ECGD productive expenditure criteria for arms sales from just the HIPC countries to all IDA countries.

EDM 686 Department for International Development and the Arms Export Licence Approval Process for IDA Countries

That this House notes that licences for arms export to International Development Association (IDA) countries are currently granted by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; welcomes the Second Joint Report of the Quadripartite Committee on 20th May 2003, HC 474, and its recommendations on strategic export controls for arms exports; believes that whilst arms exports can provide security for IDA countries, they can also, in certain cases, hinder the sustainable development of IDA countries and their efforts to tackle and alleviate poverty; recognises that the Department for International Development is responsible for promoting sustainable development; and so resolves that arms licences to all IDA countries should be granted jointly by the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and for International Development to ensure that both departments' policies of trade and development are working hand in hand for the benefit of Britain and its global neighbours.

©John Battle MP 11th March 2004