Close arms export 'loopholes' call

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The MPs called for closer monitoring of UK arms fairs after it emerged stun guns which could be used for torture were being openly sold.

They also said there should be "more vigorous prosecution" of arms dealers caught flouting the rules and tougher licensing measures for the export of small arms.

The all-party Quadripartite Committee said the law needs to be regularly reviewed to meet "changing proliferation patterns and procurement methods for weapons of mass destruction and the threat from terrorists".

In its report, the committee said it had "serious concerns about enforcement" of the Export Control Act.

The committee heard evidence from political comedian Mark Thomas, who has written a book on the arms trade, As Used On The Famous Nelson Mandela. He told the MPs how he attended a fair where a Chinese firm was selling stun guns.

The committee's Labour chairman Roger Berry said: "We have serious concerns about arms fairs held in the UK and so we need to see HM Revenue and Customs attending more of these events - physically patrolling during opening hours, inspecting the goods being displayed and putting difficult questions to those on stalls to ensure that export controls are not being breached."

The rules on the requirement for arms dealers to have a licence also need to be reviewed, the report said. Currently, there is a licence requirement for arms trading only if trading in certain specified weapons, such as missiles with ranges greater than 300km.

Licences are not needed for short-range missiles or small arms - which statistically kill more people. The committee recommended that all UK residents and British citizens overseas should be covered by a licence before engaging in any weapons trading.

The Government was also criticised for "inadequate" controls on allowing UK companies to license foreign manufactures to produce military equipment. Despite the criticism contained in the report, Mr Berry said the UK now has "generally efficient and reliable" export controls.