Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the evidential basis was for the approval of the licensing of 5A001 surveillance equipment to the Philippines on 25 July 2016 under the clear risk qualification for internal repression of the Export Control Order 2008, following the statement made by President Duterte on drug dealers and addicts on taking office on 30 July 2016.

The UK operates one of the most rigorous and transparent export control systems in the world. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account all prevailing circumstances at the time of application, including reports from Non-government Organisations and our overseas network. In particular, Criterion Two concerns the ‘respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country for international humanitarian law.

The Government will not issue an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the Consolidated Criteria, including if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression. This assessment takes into account the specific end user and intended end use of the goods.

In this particular case the licence was issued for the temporary export of the equipment for demonstration purposes and a condition of the licence was that the goods would remain under the control of the exporter.