Arms Trade (Inquiry and Suspension) Bill 2023-24

make provision for an inquiry into the end use of arms sold to foreign states to determine whether they have been used in violation of international law; to immediately suspend the sale of arms to foreign states where it cannot be demonstrated that arms sold will not be used in violation of international law; and for connected purposes.

Private Members' Bill (Presentation Bill)

What is this Bill?

The Arms Trade (Inquiry and Suspension) Bill is a Presentation Bill tabled by Zarah Sultana.

Is this Bill currently before Parliament?

Yes. This Bill was introduced on 11 December 2023 and is currently before Parliament.

Whose idea is this Bill?

As a Private Members' Bill, this Bill represents the individual initiative of an MP (Zarah Sultana), not the Government.

What type of Bill is this?

A Presentation Bill can be tabled by any MP after the fifth Wednesday of the Session. There is no limit to the number of Presentation Bills an individual MP may table.

So is this going to become a law?

Presentation Bills are extremely unlikely to become law. Unless the Bill receives unanimous support from MPs and can pass 2nd Reading in the Commons without debate, it will not proceed further in the Bill process.

Would you like to know more?

See these Glossary articles for more information: Presentation Bill, Private Members Bill, Process of a Bill

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