As the Humanitarian
Crisis in Yemen and relations between Yemen and Saudi Arabia continue to
worsen, many concerned constituents have written to me to express their
concerns over British arm sales to Saudi Arabia.
The Government has
repeatedly assured parliamentarians that it is seriously concerned about the
humanitarian situation in Yemen. Since the start of the crisis in 2015 our
humanitarian commitment to Yemen now stands at £770m.
Ultimately the only
lasting solution to peace in Yemen is through a political settlement. The UK
Government is actively supporting the UN Special Envoy for Yemen in his efforts
to bring the various parties on both sides around the table to find a way
forward.
On the issue of arm
sales, the Government keeps export licensing for Saudi Arabia under constant
review, including in light of military action by the Saudi-led Coalition in
Yemen.
The key test for the
Government’s continued military exports to Saudi Arabia in relation to
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is whether there is a clear risk that
those items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of IHL.
As set out in the
Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, the Government
will not issue an export licence where we assess that the items might be used
in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law. A
licence would not be granted if to do so was inconsistent with the criteria.
Following a ruling by
the Court of Appeal on this matter last week, the UK Government has now said it
will now stop granting any new licences for weapons exports to Saudi Arabia or
coalition partners involved militarily in Yemen.
A Government
spokesperson also said: "Extant licences - those granted before this
judgment - are not immediately affected by the Court Order. Exporters may
continue to export under extant licences. But we are required by the court to
reconsider the decisions we made about those licences."
The Government needs to
ensure that this review process is carried out rigorously and thoroughly, fully
considering the actions of Saudi Arabia in Yemen and in view of the
complexities of the crisis, and I will seek my view and the views of
constituents about this matter clear to the International Trade Secretary when
I next see him.
