Defence Bill; National Conventional Arms Control Bill: finalisation

Meeting report

SELECT COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
15 October 2002
DEFENCE BILL; NATIONAL CONVENTIONAL ARMS CONTROL BILL: FINALISATION

Chairperson: Mr LM Mokoena (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Defence Bill [B 60B -2001]
National Conventional Arms Control Bill [B50D-2000]

SUMMARY
The Committee finalised both the Defence Bill and the National Conventional Arms Control Bill. There were no changes proposed to the Bills. The Democratic Party opposed the National Conventional Arms Control Bill and expressed reservations with Clauses 15, 23 and 27.

MINUTES
Ms Van der Poel: Department of Defence, stated that no changes had been proposed to the Bill since the previous meeting and it was therefore still as proposed.

The Chair enquired from Members whether they had consulted with their principals and whether there was anything in general that they wanted to raise in regards to the Bill. There were no comments and he then proceeded to read the motion of desirability and stated that they would consider the Bill clause by clause.

Mr EA Conroy (NNP) suggested that as there were no amendments to the Bill they should consider the Bill as a whole and not clause by clause.

The Chair agreed that this suggestion would expedite the matter. Since they had consulted with their principals and there had been enough discussion on the Bill the only thing that remained to be done was to adopt the Bill. The other parties agreed with the proposal. The State Law Advisor also agreed that it acceptable.

The Chair read the Committee report agreeing to the Bill.

National Conventional Arms Control Bill
The Department of Defence representative stated that there were two principle questions that had been raised, dealing with quorums and reporting.

Quorums
The Bill provides for a quorum of four on the National Conventional Arms Control Committee. Provision is made for the President to appoint political or other figures to the Committee. He stated that if the quorum was four the President would have to appoint a minimum of four people for the Act to be functional. The Bill allowed flexibility for the President to decide on which type of people he would like to appoint. It was, therefore, acceptable, that they did not state the number of people.

Reporting
In terms of the Bill, the NCACC would make quarterly reports to the Cabinet and a committee of Parliament on all conventional arms exports concluded during the previous quarter. It would also present to Parliament and release to the public an annual report on all conventional arms exports concluded during the preceding calendar year.

The Chair then proceeded to read the motion of desirability, and signed it accordingly.

The Democratic Party asked that it be noted that the DP would be voting against the Bill: was this the right time to bring up their objection.

The Chair stated that this was not the right time but moved that they continue. He led the Committee through the Bill clause by clause.

All parties agreed to the Bill, as presented. The DP had reservations with Clause 15, Clause 23 and Clause 27.

The Chair noted the DP's reservations and moved for the adoption of the Bill.

The Chair read the Committee report agreeing to the Bill.

The meeting was adjourned.