STEPHEN questions minister on arms purchased by israel
Stephen has received an answer to his question to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs about whether the arms purchased by Israel were used in the recent action against Gaza.
Following a meeting with 50 constituents, Stephen submitted a written Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State. He asked, “What enquiries he has made of the Government of Israel about whether arms purchased under export licences from the UK were used in the recent action against Gaza?”
Stephen recently received a response from James Cleverley MP, Minister for Middle East and North Africa. The reply states: “HM Government takes its export control responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. We consider all export applications thoroughly against a strict risk assessment framework and keep all licences under careful and continual review as standard. HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.”
Speaking this afternoon, Stephen said, “I am disappointed that the Government has not addressed the issues I raised. I strongly believe that the UK should not provide arms if they are being used in attacks on the civilian population of Gaza.”