Arms Exports to Saudi Arabia

Lord Lea of Crondall Excerpts

Tuesday 25th June 2019 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Courtown]

My Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate for his question. The key test for granting export licences in these circumstances is criterion 2c of the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, which considers whether there is a clear risk that the items to be exported might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The right reverend Prelate then moved on to a decision made in 2016. At that point, international humanitarian law was considered on past events as well, and the judgment under ground 1 was that we should also take into account past events.

[Lord Lea of Crondall (Lab)]

My Lords, is it the case that the Saudi Arabian air force has embedded within it representatives of the British arms industry?

[The Earl of Courtown]

My Lords, as noble Lords are aware, there have been exports to Saudi Arabia, including air platforms and air-to-ground munitions and associated matters. BAE Systems works in Saudi Arabia, and I think that that is the point that the noble Lord is making.