Arms Export Licences (Saudi Arabia) Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for International Trade
Ann Clwyd
Main Page: Ann Clwyd (Labour - Cynon Valley)Department Debates - View all Ann Clwyd's debates with the Department for International Trade
Arms Export Licences (Saudi Arabia)
Ann Clwyd Excerpts(5 years, 1 month ago)
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Mr Speaker
First I call the longest-serving member of the Committees on Arms Export Controls—Ann Clwyd.
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab)
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Does the new Minister realise that it took almost a year, at the start of this Parliament, to set up the Committees on Arms Export Controls because the Government dragged their feet—and, I would say, dragged their feet deliberately? I am sick of hearing about “rigorous and robust”—this is neither rigorous nor robust. Representatives of the various parties in the Saudi-led coalition were recently at the arms fair. Can she give us an assurance that no new undertakings or contracts were agreed to service or export new goods to the countries involved in the coalition in Yemen?
Elizabeth Truss
The role of the joint unit is to scrutinise licences. I can assure the right hon. Lady that we have put in place an interim process to make sure that all available Government information is reflected in advice to Ministers on the issuance of these licences to Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners and that that will specifically have ministerial sign-off.