Petitions

Baroness Winterton of Doncaster Excerpts

Tuesday 18th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)]

I rise to present this petition on the Government’s sale of arms to Saudi Arabia on behalf of my constituents in Cambridge. It was set up by OxCam, the University of Cambridge’s—[Interruption.]

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton)]

Order. Will hon. Members leaving do so quietly? We want to hear the petition from Daniel Zeichner.

[Daniel Zeichner]

The petition was set up by OxCam, the University of Cambridge’s Oxfam group. I was approached by Thea Augustidis, the OxCam campaigns officers, who asked me to present this petition to Parliament, bringing this important issue to the attention of MPs across the House.

The petition states:

The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that the government’s sale of arms to Saudi Arabia is unacceptable, as there is substantial evidence that these arms are being used to kill innocent civilians in Yemen. This is in direct breach of the UK arms export policy, which states that the licenses cannot be granted if there is a “clear risk” the arms might be used in a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to urge the Government to: suspend all arms transfers to members of the Saudi coalition carrying out attacks in Yemen, including weapons, arms, munition and ammunition, parts and components and other equipment that pose a substantial risk that they could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in this conflict.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

[P002305]