asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to respond to the proposal from the Joint Report of the Commons Defence Select Committee, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and the International Development Select Committee on strategic export controls published on 17 July 2000 (HC 467, Session 1999–2000) for scrutiny in advance of applications for arms export licences; and whether they have plans to adopt procedures similar to those in the United States and Sweden. [HL418]

The Government's response to the Joint Report on Strategic Export Controls (HC 467, Session 1999–2000) was published in December 2000 (Cm 4872). The response outlined the Government's objections in principle and in practice to the committee's proposals for prior parliamentary scrutiny of export licence applications. However, the Government will carefully consider the revised proposals published in the Quadripartite Committee's report of 14 March 2001 (HC 212) and respond in due course.As regards the systems in place in Sweden and the US, I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my honourable friend the Minister for Consumer and

Corporate Affairs on 15 January (