[Mr Philip Hollobone in the Chair] — Arms Exports

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 2:51 pm on 13 December 2012.

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Photo of Michael Fallon Michael Fallon The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 2:51, 13 December 2012

I repeat hon. Members’ welcome to the Chair of the Committees, my right hon. Friend Sir John Stanley, and thank all those who contributed to our short debate. I thank my right hon. Friend in particular for all the work he does in chairing the Committees and for his kind words at the beginning of the debate.

Since becoming the Minister with responsibility for export controls, I have become acutely aware of the challenges posed and the passions aroused by the export of strategic goods. On the one hand, we want to give export licence applications the fullest scrutiny to ensure we do not license anything that would be used for internal repression or would fuel conflict or breach an embargo. We also want to be as transparent as possible about our activity in this area, in recognition of the strong parliamentary and public interest. On the other hand—Mr Wright recognised this—successive Governments, including this one, have been committed to a strong defence and security industry, which helps to meet not only our own defence needs but the needs of other states.