Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why moral considerations are not included in the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria used to assess arms export licence applications.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Consolidated Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider 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: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the government of the United States to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia; and what plans they have to do the same.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The US announced it would end support to Saudi-led offensive operations in Yemen, including relevant defence exports. This is entirely a matter for the US Government.
Our position on arms exports to Saudi Arabia – as with all countries – is that such exports require an export licence and that all export licence applications are carefully assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the “Consolidated Criteria”) on a case-by-case basis. A licence would not be granted if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of influence that the UK electorate will have over new trade deals.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
HM Government will always negotiate Free Trade Agreements that best serve the interests of Britain’s businesses, consumers and communities.
As champions of the British people, Parliamentarians have a key role to play in our new independent trade policy. That is why HM Government is engaging with Parliament – and others from across the country – at all stages of our trade negotiations with Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Our approach provides for strong levels of scrutiny when compared to similar parliamentary democracies and is appropriate to our constitutional arrangements.
The Department for International Trade will continue to make sure that future Free Trade Agreements are negotiated and implemented subject to such scrutiny, whilst protecting the national interest.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the value of UK arms sales to Yemen in (1) 2017, and (2) 2019.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Although defence and security export statistics by region are published annually on GOV.UK, they do not separately identify data relating to individual countries.
The Government publishes official statistics about export licences granted and refused each quarter. The data currently includes details of licences up to 31 March 2020. Data for the period 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020 was published on 13 October 2020. The data can be accessed on GOV.UK.
Licences granted are not necessarily a measure of exports shipped in a given period as they are valid for between two and five years. Licensing data only provides a partial indication of sales as exporters only declare export values for a subsection of licences (Standard Individual Export Licences). Some licences expire before they are used and, in these circumstances, exporters must submit a further application, which can result in an element of double counting. All UK export licence applications are assessed rigorously against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing criteria.
Export values declared for Standard Individual Export Licences for military exports granted to Yemen in 2017 and 2019 are as follows:
Year | Value (£) |
2017 | £21,150 |
2019 | £0 |
It is also the case that there is a partial arms embargo on Yemen. The embargo applies only to designated individuals and entities.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the value of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia in (1) 2017, and (2) 2019.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Although defence and security export statistics by region are published annually on GOV.UK, they do not separately identify data relating to individual countries.
The Government publishes official statistics about export licences granted and refused each quarter. The data currently includes details of licences up to 31 March 2020. Data for the period 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020 was published on 13 October 2020. The data can be accessed on GOV.UK.
It should be noted that licences granted are not necessarily a measure of sales or exports shipped in a given period as they are valid for between two and five years. Licensing data only provides a partial indication of sales as exporters only declare export values for a subsection of licences (Standard Individual Export Licences). Some licences expire before they are used and, in these circumstances, exporters must submit a further application, which can result in an element of double counting. All UK export licence applications are assessed rigorously against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing criteria.
Export values declared for Standard Individual Export Licences for military exports granted to Saudi Arabia in 2017 and 2019 are as follows:
Year | Value (£) |
2017 | £ 1,133,477,661 |
2019 | £ 638,236,675 |
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they decided to resume granting export licences for the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) of 7th July 2020 set out details of the revised methodology developed to comply with the Court of Appeal’s judgment of 20th June 2019 and applied to re-take the decisions remitted by the Court of Appeal on the correct legal basis.
It also set out why my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade assessed that there is not a clear risk that the export of arms and military equipment to Saudi Arabia might be used in the commission of a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.
Having now re-taken the decisions that were the subject of judicial review on the correct legal basis, as required by the Order of the Court of Appeal of 20th June 2019, it follows that the undertaking given to the Court – that we would not grant any new licences for the export of arms or military equipment to Saudi Arabia for possible use in Yemen – falls away. The broader commitment that was given to Parliament, relating to licences for Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners, also no longer applies.
Decisions on export licence applications for Saudi Arabia and its Coalition partners for possible use in the conflict in Yemen can now be taken. All export licence applications will be assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans for Parliament to ratify future trade deals involving the NHS; and if they have no such plans, why.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Trade is vital for the NHS, which relies heavily on crucial goods and services that come wholly, or in part, from suppliers based overseas. Trade enables the NHS to buy the best possible medicines and medical devices that industry – here and overseas – has to offer.
At the same time, Britain’s international public procurement commitments do not apply to the procurement of British healthcare services. In fact, Britain’s public services are protected by specific exclusions, exceptions and reservations in the trade agreements to which we are party, and HM Government will continue to make sure that the same rigorous protections are included in future trade agreements.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they are proposing that Parliament should not ratify future trade deals after the UK leaves the EU trading bloc on the 31 December.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
This is not the case. All treaties that require ratification are subject to the scrutiny procedures laid out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
Further, the constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom mean international treaties cannot themselves amend domestic legislation. Should any changes to our law be needed to implement a future Free Trade Agreement, legislation will need to be scrutinised and passed by Parliament in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government to which countries in the Middle East they sell arms.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Arms exports require an export licence. As outlined in my response to the Noble Lord on 22 June, UIN:HL5414, HM Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences granted, refused and revoked to all destinations on GOV.UK, including those for exports to the Middle East. These reports contain information including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy regarding the sale of arms to the United States of America.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
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 (DIT) receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from Non-Government Organisations (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.
All countries are under continual review, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, and my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require.
We do not hold complete records based on shipments of items exported to the United States or any country, although we do hold some information based on the value of licences granted for Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs). The Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences granted, refused and revoked to all destinations on GOV.UK. These reports contain information including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. This information is available at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.
The most recent publication was in April 2020, on licences issued until the end of December 2019. Quarterly reports are available from 2008 onwards.
Records from 1997–2007 are available in the United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls Annual Report, laid each year and placed within the libraries of the House.