The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Information and Technology (Baroness Jones of Whitchurch) (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 25 March 2025

Debate

Contribution

My Lords, the assessment that there was a clear risk that certain UK exports might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law meant that such exports were no longer permitted under our strategic export licensing criteria, and were thus suspended. The SELC are statutory guidance, from which the Government may depart only when there is a good reason. Moreover, the UK’s international obligations, such as under the Arms Trade Treaty, remain binding on the UK under international law, irrespective of whether the SELC are being applied. My noble friend Lady Chapman was therefore quite correct to say that, under the criteria, the Government were required to suspend certain licences.

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