Local arms trade campaigners, representing a number of local groups, urged MP for Richmond Park Zac Goldsmith to call upon Vince Cable’s Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) department to do more to regulate arms brokers.

Twickenham, Richmond and Kingston Against the Arms Trade (Traknat) met Mr Goldsmith at Portcullis House on May 13 to discuss the issue after meeting Dr Cable in November.

Amnesty member and Richmond resident John Hatto said: “BIS issues licences to arms dealers to broker unlimited quantities of deadly weapons, including small arms, to some of the most repressive regimes in the world.

“We want Vince Cable’s department to clean up its act, create a public register of brokers and stop giving arms dealers free rein to broker as many weapons as they like.

“We were encouraged by Zac’s willingness to take up this issue directly with ministers.”

The groups represented at the meeting included Amnesty, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the United Nations Association, Kingston Peace Council and the Green Party.

Mr Goldsmith said: “I am no expert on this issue, but I recognise its importance on many levels, and was pleased to have a chance to learn more from committed campaigners. I certainly support their call for greater transparency.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The Government takes its export licensing responsibilities seriously.

“Applications for products which require an export licence are considered on a case by case basis. A licence is only granted if the application meets tough standards.

“This includes considering the intended use of the equipment, the behaviour of the user, conditions in the country being exported to and any human rights concerns.

“These standards mean we have one of the strictest arms export control regimes in the world.”

For more information, visit traknat.org.uk.