27 Nov 15. Defence Committee – Oral Evidence Sessions To Be Held On:
Tuesday 1 December 2015, Grimmond Room, Portcullis House
Shifting The Goalposts? Defence Expenditure And The 2% Pledge.
At 11.30am
Witnesses from the Ministry of Defence:
• Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence
• Air Marshal Sir Steven Hillier KCB CBE DFC RAF, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Capability)
• Peter Watkins, Director General for Security Policy
This is the third and final session for this inquiry. Discussion will concentrate on the significance of the 2% target and its relevance to UK defence spending. The Committee will also explore the nature of the expenditure included in this 2% figure and the relationship between spending and capability.
27 Nov 15. Publication Of The SDSR.
At 12.15pm
Witnesses from the Ministry of Defence:
• Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence
• Air Marshal Sir Steven Hillier KCB CBE DFC RAF, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Capability)
• Peter Watkins, Director General for Security Policy
This is the second and final session for this inquiry. The Committee will question the Secretary of State on the Governments, National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, following its publication on 23 November 2015.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
Asked on: 17 November 2015
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade
HL3612
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what systems they have in place to monitor the use of military equipment licensed for export to Saudi Arabia to establish whether or not that equipment has been used to violate international humanitarian law in Yemen.
A
Answered by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Answered on: 25 November 2015
The British Government monitors the situation in Yemen closely, including reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We take these reports very seriously. We have raised our concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities, who have provided assurances to us that they are complying with IHL. We continue to engage with them on those assurances, and we urge all sides to investigate such incidents fully. The Ministry of Defence continues to monitor alleged incidents internally, using available information, which in turn informs our overall assessment of IHL compliance in Yemen. We are offering Saudi Arabia advice and training to demonstrate best practice and to help ensure continued compliance with International Humanitarian Law.
With respect to UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia, all applications for strategic export control licences for military and dual-use goods are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the Criteria), in a manner consistent with the UK’s international obligations. A licence will not be issued for export of items to any country if to do so would be inconsistent with any mandatory provision of the Criteria, including where we assess there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of IHL.
The Government is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the Criteria. Our export licensing system allows us to respond to changed circumstances and new information as and when necessary. The principle of responsible export controls is fundamental for the Government.