Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what quantity of (1) tear gas, (2) rubber bullets, and (3) riot shields, have been exported in the past three years from the UK to the United States; whether they plan to suspend exports of such products to the United States in view of the use to which they are being put by police in response to the protests following the death of George Floyd; and whether they have asked the government of the United States to ensure that already exported materials are not being used for this purpose.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
I have been deeply saddened by the violence that has taken place in the US. The death of George Floyd was a grave injustice and the right to peaceful protest is an important part of any free society.
The United Kingdom takes its export control responsibilities seriously and operates one of the most transparent export control systems in the world. We publish quarterly and annual statistics on all our export licensing decisions, including details of export licences granted, refused and revoked on GOV.UK.
We are able to review licences and suspend or revoke as necessary when circumstances require, and this is done in line with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria
Records of the of the quantity of tear gas, rubber bullets, and riot shields exported in the past three years can only be provided at disproportionate costs.