Liberal Democrats condemn the Government's arms export regulations

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Jun 2006

A child soldier in Sierra Leone

Following news that the Department for Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation has only 7 full time officers monitoring compliance of UK companies with export regulations, the Liberal Democrats have condemned the Government's arms export regulations.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey MP said: "It is shocking to think that thousands of small arms are being imported into this country with no clear end use. With just 7 officials monitoring end use of arms from this country it beggars belief that the government has no intention to change the current procedures."

Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Susan Kramer MP added: "For developing countries, end use monitoring of arms transfers is crucial. UK companies export arms to over 150 countries worldwide, with around one member of staff monitoring end use for every twenty countries; this is an unacceptable situation. If we want to persuade other countries to act responsibly on arms control we must first look at our own export regulations."