09 Nov 12. The Committees on Arms Export Controls put further questions to the Government on its arms export controls and arms export policies.
The Chairman of the Committees on Arms Export Controls, Sir John Stanley, wrote to the Foreign Secretary, on 7 November 2012 requesting answers to points and questions arising from the Government’s response (Cm 8441) to the Committees’ 2012 Report (HC419-I and HC419-II) published on 13 July 2012. The issues on which the Committees are requiring additional information and answers to questions from the Government include:
* Torture end-use control
* Re-export controls and undertakings
* Licensed production overseas
* The Consolidated Criteria for arms export licences
* Enforcement of arms export controls
* The Intra-Community Transfer (ICT) Directive on arms transfers within the EU
* The Arms Trade Treaty
* Sub-strategic and tactical nuclear weapons
* Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty
* The National Counter-Proliferation Strategy for 2012-2015
* Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) Human Rights Guidance
* Surveillance technology and equipment
* Export of Tasers
* The Government’s Arab Spring arms export policy review
* Arms export licence revocations
* Arms exports to countries of concern, including Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Argentina and China
* Extension of the Government’s arms export policy review to authoritarian regimes and countries of concern worldwide.
The Chairman of the Committees, Sir John Stanley, said “The questions put to the Government in my latest letter to the Foreign Secretary constitute an important element in the Committees’ continuing vigorous scrutiny of the Government’s arms exports and arms control policies prior to the Committees taking Oral Evidence from both the Foreign Secretary and the Business Secretary on December 19”.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for Tuesday 13 November 2012
Aircraft Carriers
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for the operational role of HMS Prince of Wales; whether recent decisions on the procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have caused those plans to be modified; and if he will make a statement. [126887]
Mr Robathan: The Queen Elizabeth Class carriers and F-35B short take off vertical landing variant of the joint strike fighter will deliver the UK’s carrier strike capability, as well as providing support to amphibious operations and broader Government interests worldwide. The decision to revert to the F-35B joint strike fighter has given us the option to use both carriers to provide continuous carrier availability should we decide to do so. A final decision on the use of the second carrier will be taken as part of the strategic defence and security review in 2015.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Transformation Programme; and if he will make a statement. [126578]
Mr Francois: The Defence Infrastructure Transformation Programme comprises three key sub-programmes; the development of an Enhanced Operating Model (EOM) for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation; the introduction of improved Information Systems (IS) and the appointment of a Strategic Business Partner (SBP). Trade union consultation on the new EOM organisational design is under way and the IS contract has now been awarded. The procurement of the SBP commenced in May 2012. Three bidders have been down selected in August 2012 and the invitation to negotiate will be issued shortly.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the outcome of his Department’s search for a private sector partner for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. [126579]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence intends to announce the outcome of its search for a private sector part