Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to ban all arms exports to countries that are not part of NATO or in a formal alliance with the UK.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
HM Government takes its export responsibilities seriously and will continue to assess all export licences in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’). HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria, including if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
In addition, HM Government is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require, and this is done in line with the Consolidated Criteria.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to stop granting export licences for the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
HM Government takes its export responsibilities seriously and will continue to assess all export licences in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’). HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria, including if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
In addition, HM Government is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require, and this is done in line with the Consolidated Criteria.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to suspend (1) the granting of arms export licences, and (2) military support, to Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners involved in operations in Yemen.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
HM Government takes its export responsibilities seriously and will continue to assess all export licences in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’). HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria, including if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
In addition, HM Government is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require, and this is done in line with the Consolidated Criteria
The United Kingdom has an ongoing defence relationship with Saudi Arabia, including training courses, advice and guidance, which support Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect its national security. This also supports the Saudi military’s compliance with international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they gave to the actions of the government of Saudi Arabia (1) in that country, and (2) in Yemen, when deciding to resume granting export licences for arms sales to Saudi Arabia; and what assessment they have made of the compatibility of that decision with the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, announced on 6 July.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Written Ministerial Statement of 7th July 2020 set out the steps that HM Government has taken to comply with the judgment of the Court of Appeal of 20th June 2019 regarding licences for military exports to Saudi Arabia for possible use in the conflict in Yemen.
To address the Court of Appeal’s judgment, we have developed a revised methodology in respect of all allegations which it is assessed are likely to have occurred and to have been caused by fixed wing aircraft reflecting the factual circumstances that the court proceedings concerned.
To be clear, allegations have been subject to detailed analysis by reference to the relevant principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and in the light of information and intelligence available. An evaluation has then been made, in respect of each incident, whether it is possible that it constitutes a breach of IHL or whether it is unlikely that it represents a breach.
The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime is a separate issue entirely though. This new sanctions regime will give the United Kingdom a powerful new tool to hold those individuals involved in serious violations of rights and responsibilities to account.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place to ensure that Parliament and relevant sectors of civil society, including the charitable sector, are able to scrutinise all current and future trade negotiations with the United States, with particular reference to their direct or indirect implications for (1) economies, (2) trade, and (3) vulnerable people, in the least developed countries.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
This Government is committed to transparency and will ensure that parliamentarians, UK citizens, businesses and charities have access to the information they need on our trade negotiations. For the UK-USA Free Trade Agreement, the Government has set out its negotiating objectives, alongside a response to the public consultation as well as an initial economic assessment.
We engage with businesses, civil society, academics and consumer groups through the Strategic Advisory Group (STAG) and Expert Trade Advisory Groups (ETAGs), as well as through regular conversations outside of these formal channels.
The UK also remains committed to ensuring developing countries can reduce poverty through trading opportunities.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any direct, or indirect, trade by UK public bodies with illegal settlements in the West Bank; and whether they will review the adequacy of the advice on the UK Trade and Investment website in that respect.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government neither supports nor encourages such dealings. The Government routinely updates its guidance on the Overseas Business Risk website, outlining the clear risks related to economic and financial activities (including financial transactions, investments, purchases and procurements) in the settlements.