ADMINISTERING BRITAIN ARMS TRADE

This article examines the administration of Britain's overseas arms tr ade through a consideration of the role of the main government departm ents concerned with its control and regulation - the Department of Tra de and Industry, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence. Additionally it examines the activities of 'arms-length' p ublic agencies such as the Defence Export Services Organisation and In ternational Military Services whose job it is to promote arms sales. I t concludes that while the promotion function may (but does not have t o) run counter to that of control, the latter is comprehensively and c ompetently administered. If it fails - and it has done so recently - i t is because of political intervention and not administrative shortcom ings.