Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by the Secretary of State for Defence on 19 December 2016 (HC Deb, cols 1215–1216), when they first became aware of the use of UK-made cluster bombs by Saudi Arabia in Yemen; and following assurances they have received from the government of Saudi Arabia that the use of such bombs has now stopped, what monitoring will take place.

Amnesty International wrote to the Prime Minister on 23 May 2016, and to the Ministry of Defence on 3 June 2016, on the alleged use of UK-produced BL-755 cluster munitions by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. That allegation was confirmed by the Coalition in their statement on 19 December 2016.

We welcome the Saudi commitment to cease use of UK-manufactured BL-755 cluster munitions and have offered to assist with the destruction of any remaining stocks of the weapon.