Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are currently granting licences for arms exports to Turkey; and what plans they have, if any, to suspend the issue of new licences.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Licences for arms exports continue to be issued to Turkey, but only where they are consistent with the Oral Statement to Parliament on 15th October 2019 made by my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary, which clarifies that no export licences are currently being issued to Turkey for items that might be used in military operations in Syria.
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account all Relevant factors at the time of the application, including how the goods will be used.
HM Government publishes official statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences on GOV.UK including detailed information on the type of export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, type (e.g. military, other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that arms sold by the UK to other countries are not used on civilian populations.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
British arms sales are subject to an export licence. All export licence applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’).
The Consolidated Criteria take into account our obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and other relevant rules of international law. They provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to think hard about the possible impact of providing equipment and its capabilities.
HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what safeguards exist to ensure that weapons sold to other countries are not used on civilian populations.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
British arms sales are subject to an export licence. All export licence applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’).
The Consolidated Criteria take into account our obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and other relevant rules of international law. They provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to think hard about the possible impact of providing equipment and its capabilities.
HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether non-use against civilians is a condition of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
British arms sales are subject to an export licence. All export licence applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’).
The Consolidated Criteria take into account our obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and other relevant rules of international law. They provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to think hard about the possible impact of providing equipment and its capabilities.
HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current status of UK arms supply arrangements with Saudi Arabia; and whether changes have been made to these arrangements in the light of the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
British arms exports are subject to an export licence. All export licence applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’).
As set out in my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade’s Written Statement of 7th July 2020, we have developed a revised methodology in respect of all allegations that it is assessed are likely to have occurred and to have been caused by fixed wing aircraft, reflecting the factual circumstances which court proceedings concerned and this revised methodology is in place for international humanitarian law (IHL) assessments when assessing such exports against Criterion 2c of the Consolidated Criteria.
Criterion 2c provides that HM Government will not grant a licence if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of IHL. Indeed, HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with any part of the Consolidated Criteria.