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Aviation: Defence Equipment

Asked by Bell Ribeiro-AddyLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 24 June 2025UIN 61203

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to track the final destination of military equipment transiting through UK airports.

Answered by Mr Douglas Alexander

Responsibility for the enforcement of UK export controls on military and dual use and sanctioned goods rests with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). HMRC works closely with Border Force, other government departments and international partners to assist in identifying high-risk movements, conduct customs checks, and where necessary, seize goods at the port.

Military exports transiting the UK do not require a licence if they comply with certain handling conditions, do not include specific goods and are not for specific destinations, as set out in Article 17 of the Export Control Order 2008.

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