Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Independent - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish a list of all previously controlled goods removed from the UK Strategic Export Control Lists in the last 10 years.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Export Control Act 2002 and the Export Control Order 2008 provide the legal framework for the UK’s strategic export controls.
Through this, HM Government controls the export of a range of military and “dual-use” items in the UK Strategic Export Control Lists. Changes to the UK’s control lists are made periodically primarily to implement our obligations under multi-lateral export control regimes, but also to introduce or amend national controls.
Changes to the list are published on legislation.gov.uk.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Independent - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has exempted the company RCV Engines Ltd from applying for arms export licenses for the sale of (a) engines and (b) engine parts.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The requirement for an export licence for military and dual-use goods is set out in the Export Control Order 2008. Export licence applications for all controlled goods are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
The Export Control Joint Unit does not issue exemptions from requirements for export licences except those specifically prescribed in law (e.g. the list of controlled goods under the 2008 Order exempts any engine manufactured before 1946). Where individual licence applications include items that are not covered by the 2008 Order, exporters can be informed that no licence is required.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Independent - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any types of unmanned aerial vehicle engines have been removed from (a) ML10d and (b) 9A001 of the UK Strategic Export Control Lists since 2020.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Since 2020 the only changes made to the ML10d & 9A001 control entries were, respectively, to exclude aero engines originally manufactured prior to 1946 and to delete the control on aero gas turbine engines for aircraft able to cruise above Mach 1. It is considered that these changes do not substantively alter the extent of the controls that apply to engines designed for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Independent - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Arms exports to Israel must stop immediately: UN experts, published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 23r February 2024, if she will take steps to cease the transfer of (a) weapons and (b) ammunition to Israel that would be used in Gaza.
Answered by Greg Hands
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
The Export Control Joint Unit will not issue an export licence to any destination where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.
The Government is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza very closely and will take any action the Government considers appropriate as the situation develops. All extant licences are kept under careful review and we are able to amend, suspend or revoke licences as circumstances require.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Independent - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the applicability of Criterion 2(c) of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria in reference to potential strategic export licenses to Israel.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which includes Criterion 2(c) - the provision not to grant a licence if it is determined there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
Extant licences are kept under careful review and the Business and Trade Secretary has the power to suspend, revoke or amend extant licences as required.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Independent - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral evidence by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 9 January 2023, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policy on arms export licences to Israel of the evidence provided by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on whether Israel is complying with international law in its military engagement in Gaza.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which includes Criterion 2, covering respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country for international humanitarian law.
Extant licences are kept under careful review and the Business and Trade Secretary has the power to suspend, revoke or amend extant licences as required.