SALES OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY TO REPRESSIVE STATES

That this House notes the reports of the BBC and the Danish newspaper, Dagbadet which questions the lawfulness of BAE Systems' sales of surveillance technology and decryption software to several Gulf and North African states; holds grave concerns over arms manufacturers who are avoiding UK restrictions on arms exports through subsidiary companies; further notes that BAE Systems' sales of decryption technologies arguably violates Category 5 UK arms export restrictions posing a direct threat to the national security of the UK and its allies; believes that the sales of surveillance technology to governments with questionable human rights records damages the UK's global standing; and calls on the Government urgently to review existing legislation and the oversight procedures governing the export of arms and security technologies.