Falkirk West MP, Eric Joyce is this week playing a key role in examining detailed new legislation to control the international trade in illegal arms.

Following his contribution to a debate in the House in July when the Export Control Bill was being discussed, Eric was invited to join the Standing Committee that scrutinises the proposed legislation line by line.

Speaking today, Eric Joyce MP said

‘The Export Control Bill is vital to combat terrorism and block the illegal trafficking and brokering in arms. It modernises legislation going back to 1939 and gives us an arms control regime for the 21st Century and for the new challenges we face.

This Bill gives the UK one of the toughest arms control regimes in the world, allowing us to effectively enforce UK, UN and EU embargoes on any country.'

Praising Eric's efforts on the Committee, the Minister for Arms Controls, Nigel Griffiths MP said

‘I am grateful for the strong support shown by Eric and the other members of the Standing Committee to this Bill. Their time and effort will enable the Government to enact this vital legislation with the fullest possible Parliamentary scrutiny.

Committee members have got through a mountain of reading material to iron out any loopholes in the draft legislation and to give us one of the most effective systems for controlling weapons' exports. '

Notes to Editor

• The Export Control Bill implements the key recommendations of the Scott Enquiry (Arms to Iraq) and will give the UK one of the toughest arms control regimes in the world.
• The Bill aims to create a new licensing requirement for arms trafficking and brokering; to control the provision of any technical assistance to weapons of mass destruction or related missile programmes; to increase transparency and public accountability, requiring Ministers to publish an annual report on export controls; and to increase penalties for illegal arms trading or breaching UN embargoes to a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
• The Standing Committee met twice yesterday (16th Oct) and is scheduled to meet twice again tomorrow (18th Oct).