Arms Trade: Exports
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department's review of export licensing policy will include an examination of the effectiveness of the Export Control Joint Unit.
Answered by Mr Douglas Alexander
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
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