Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which companies are licensed to export (a) rubber bullets and (b) tear gas; and to which countries those items are exported.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
I refer the honourable member to the answer I provided on 8th June.
All countries are under continual review, in line with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’), and my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require.
Providing the names of companies licensed to export crowd controlled ammunition and tear gas would disclose commercially sensitive information.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when the arms export licences to the United States were last reviewed.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
I refer the honourable member to the answer I provided on 8th June.
All countries are under continual review, in line with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’), and my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require.
Providing the names of companies licensed to export crowd controlled ammunition and tear gas would disclose commercially sensitive information.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will suspend export of (a) rubber bullets and (b) tear gas to the US.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America.
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.
Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear.
Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will suspend export of (a) rubber bullets and (b) tear gas to the US.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America.
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.
Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear.
Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what (a) facilities and (b) other support his Department provides for (i) visitors and (ii) staff for (A) lactating mothers and (B) the expressing of breast milk.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for International Trade provides quiet spaces for lactating mothers in its London estates appropriate for both visitors and staff.
International Trade & Investment and Trade Policy Group are located in 1 Victoria Street. The building has one first aid room equipped with seats, a bed, antibacterial wipes and a refrigerator. This room is kept locked when not in use and is accessible to lactating mothers and those who need to express their milk.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is located in the Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road. The Treasury building has one first aid room and two recovery rooms which can be used by staff members and visitors who are lactating mothers and those who need to express their milk. The rooms are private, kept locked when not in use and are equipped with refrigerators where the mothers can safely store their breast milk. The rooms have antibacterial wipes, paper towels, comfortable seats and a bed if needed to rest. The rooms are heated but are also provided with electric cooling fans should they be required.
Breast feeding mothers are given time to express their milk whilst at work and the Department for International Trade provides risk assessment for expectant mothers to ensure their health and safety whilst at work.
With regards to the Department’s offices in King Charles Street, I refer the hon Member to the answer given by my Rt hon Friend the Minister of State for Europe and the Americas on 29 November, UIN 54375.