House of Commons and Lords Hansard Written Answers
Asked by Lord Hylton
Asked on: 08 September 2015
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Israel: Arms Trade
HL2067
To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent the partial embargo imposed in 2014 on military supplies and equipment for Israel has been lifted; what was the reason for this decision; and whether the matter was considered by the Cabinet.
Answered by: Lord Maude of Horsham
Answered on: 23 September 2015
There was no partial embargo imposed in 2014 on military supplies and equipment for Israel. However, a review of licences in circulation at the outbreak of hostilities in July 2014 identified 12 export licences the Government would suspend, as a precautionary measure, in the event of a resumption of significant hostilities. The Government was concerned that in these circumstances it would be unable to clarify whether the export licensing criteria were being met. This was announced on 12 August 2014.
The results of a further review were announced on 14 July 2015 (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-of-export-licensing-procedures-for-israel) and concluded that 11 months after the establishment of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, there was now sufficient information from a wide variety of sources to apply standard export licensing procedures using the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria without any additional measures such as the precautionary measure adopted in August 2014.
The specific details of the review were not considered by the Cabinet. This is because export licensing policy is set by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. In setting this policy the Secretary of State always seeks and takes into account advice from other Cabinet colleagues, including the Foreign andDefence Secretaries.
Asked by Mark Pritchard
(The Wrekin)
Asked on: 15 September 2015
Ministry of Defence
Unmanned Air Vehicles
10325
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of collaboration between his Department and UK defence companies in developing an independent UK unmanned aerial vehicles’ capacity; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 23 September 2015
Our policy remains to provide our Armed Forces with the equipment and support they need, at the right time, and at a cost that represents value for the taxpayer. For the majority of our requirements, this is best achieved through open competition on the global market. As such, the Ministry of Defence collaborates with both UK and overseas defence companies on the development, production and support of current and future Unmanned Air Systems capabilities, based on individual user requirements.
HM Treasury
Public Expenditure
HL1945
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether decisions on the next Comprehensive Spending Review will be taken before the outcome of the next Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Corrected answer by: Lord Bridges of Headley
An error has been identified in the written answer given on 21 September 2015.
The correct answer should have been:
The Spending Review will be published on 25th November, and work is currently underway on the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) which we expect to publish before the end of the year. These reviews will be closely aligned, recognising that economic security and national security are two sides of the same coin.
At the Summer Budget, the Government committed to increased spending on defence and security, and to meet the properly measured NATO pledge to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence every year of this decade. The allocation of a Joint Security Fund of up to an additional £1.5 billion per year by 2020/21, available to the Armed Forces and Security and Intelligence agencies, will also be based on the conclusions of the SDSR.
Answered by: Lord B