MPs support US arms treaty, calls for less restrictions

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Dec 11, 2007, 11:25 GMT

British Prime Minister Tony Blair (L) and US President George W.Bush talk to journalists. EPA/GEOFF CADDICK - POOL

(M&C) - Restrictions on a US,UK arms treaty should be eased to allow British troops speedy access to US weaponry a select committee of MPs said today.

The Commons Defence Committee endorsed the UK/US Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty, signed by former Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush in the summer, however says the treaty must not be blunted by over restrictive implementing arrangements.

The committee warns "the longer the list of exclusions, the less effective the treaty will be", but ultimately approves the treaty because "any change that allows a less prescriptive transfer of technology can only assist the UK".

Committee chairman James Arbuthnot said the treaty would "make a real difference to our troops on the ground".

"This is not just in the interest of the UK and the UK defence industry: the US defence industry is also strongly in support of this treaty and it should benefit US troops as well," he said.

"We hope that our colleagues in the US Congress will agree that it is in all our interests to remove the barriers to defence cooperation."

The treaty has yet to be ratified by the US Congress or the UK government.