Private Military Companies

EDM number 1537 in 2008-09, proposed by Diane Abbott on 20/05/2009.
Categorised under the topic of Security industry.

That this House is concerned by the recent recommendation by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that private military companies operating on behalf of the Government need not be regulated by a formal licensing system; notes that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recommended instead drawing up a code of conduct; is further concerned that this means private military companies guilty of malpractice whilst operating on behalf of the Government in war zones would face no legal sanctions other than the loss of their contract; further notes that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is recommending private military companies be monitored by the British Association of Private Security Companies; believes a more independent body should monitor the private military industry; and calls on the Government seriously to reconsider the introduction of a formal licensing and monitoring system and to discontinue or at least reduce the use of private military staff as soldiers in war zones.

This motion has been signed by a total of 52 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.