Arms Exports International Humanitarian Law 2021-04-15
2021-04-15
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
Concerns over UK arms exported being used in contravention of international humanitarian law.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that arms exported from the UK are not deployed in contravention of international humanitarian law?
All arms exports require an export licence. We rigorously assess every application on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. We will not issue an export licence where to do so would be inconsistent with the consolidated criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used for a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Yemeni community in Liverpool questioning the morality of increased arms sales while aid to Yemen is being reduced.
The Yemeni community in Liverpool would like to know how the Minister can possibly justify the decision of his Department to increase its sales of bombs and missiles for use in Yemen to new record highs, while his friends at the Foreign Office are simultaneously cutting the amount of humanitarian aid going to starving Yemeni children. Does he accept that this is not just wrong, but downright immoral?
Not only are Her Majesty's Government one of the biggest donors of aid around the world, including to Yemen, but as was set out in the Secretary of State's written statement, we have devised a clear and revised methodology to make sure we will only license such products if they are consistent with the consolidated criteria.
▸
Assessment & feedback
the moral justification for increased arms sales while reducing aid
Noting Aid Contributions But Avoiding Addressing The Moral Issue Directly
Response accuracy