All 1 Debates between Robert Courts and Alan Duncan

Wed 24th Apr 2019

Saudi Arabia: Mass Executions

Debate between Robert Courts and Alan Duncan
Wednesday 24th April 2019

(5 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

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Alan Duncan Portrait Sir Alan Duncan
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The hon. Lady mentions Yemen. I have spent many decades taking an interest in Yemen. I hope we will now see some progress towards a political settlement. We have to give our full support to Martin Griffiths, our UN representative. Part of the message we have to send to the Saudi Government is that bombings in Yemen do not achieve any of the objectives they have set out to achieve, and we need a political settlement as a matter of urgency.

Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)
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Will my right hon. Friend reassure my constituents that this country does not pursue trade at the expense of human rights?

Alan Duncan Portrait Sir Alan Duncan
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I can give that assurance. We obviously want to defend human rights everywhere, and we want to maximise our trade, but we will not pursue a trade opportunity at the expense of human rights.