Asked about the licences, a UK government spokesperson said […] “The UK takes its export control responsibilities seriously and operates one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. We rigorously examine each export licence application on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

Foreign Office minister Mr Cleverly replied: The UK has a robust arms export licensing regime and all export licences are assessed in accordance with it.

On arms exports a spokesperson said: The UK operates one of the most comprehensive export control regimes in the world and rigorously assesses all export licences in accordance with strict licensing criteria. We will not issue any export licences where to do so would be inconsistent with these criteria.

A UK government spokesman said: The UK operates one of the most stringent export control systems in the world. The Government takes its export responsibilities seriously and rigorously assesses all export licences in accordance with strict licensing criteria. We will not issue any export licences where doing so would be inconsistent with these criteria.

A government spokesperson said: The UK operates one of the most comprehensive export control regimes in the world. The government takes its export responsibilities seriously and rigorously assesses all export licences in accordance with strict licensing criteria.

[Weapons mnaufacturer] Thales said: As part of the defence and security industry in the UK, Thales adheres to this country’s robust ethical standards that are among the highest found anywhere in the world. The rigorous and transparent exports control system operated by the UK Government assesses every export licence application against strict criteria.

Stephen Timms:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent to which UK-made arms are being used in activities which are in breach of international law; and if he will make a statement.

James cleverly:

The Government takes its export control responsibilities seriously and every licence application is rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. We draw on a range of sources in making assessments, including NGOs and international organisations, our diplomatic posts and reports from our overseas networks. We continue to monitor developments closely, and are able to respond quickly to changing situations. We will not issue any export licences when to do so would be inconsistent with these Criteria.

The UK Foreign Office minister, James Cleverly, said he had noted the US review, but said British arms sales licences were issued with great care to ensure they did not lead to any breach of humanitarian law. He added: The decisions the US takes on matters of arms sales are decisions for the US. The UK takes its own arms export responsibilities very seriously, and we continue to assess all arms export licences in accordance with strict licensing criteria.

Lord Hylton:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that EDO MBM Technology Ltd supplied Hornet bomb-racks and fuel pumps for the Bayraktar TB2 drones used by the government of Turkey in the Nagorno-Karabakh region; and if so, what action they have taken in response to such reports.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We consider all our export applications thoroughly against a strict risk assessment framework and keep all licences under careful and continual review as standard. The UK complies with the OSCE arms embargo relating to the NagornoKarabakh region, which is considered as part of our export licensing process, and HMG has not issued licences contrary to the arms embargo.

Alyn Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to improve reporting on open licences.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena

The United Kingdom operates one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. We rigorously examine each export licence application on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

The FCDO’s news desk […] added: It’s also worth noting that the Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. We rigorously examine every application on a case-by-case basis.

In response, a government spokesperson said the UK’s controls on exports was one of the most comprehensive n the world. They added: The government takes its export responsibilities seriously and rigorously assesses all export licences in accordance with strict licensing criteria. We will not issue any export licences where to do so would be inconsistent with these criteria.

A government spokesperson said: The government takes its export responsibilities seriously and assesses all export licences in accordance with strict licensing criteria. We will not issue any export licences where to do so would be inconsistent with these criteria.

Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) (Lab):

President-elect Biden has spoken powerfully about the need to end support for the war in Yemen and to stop selling arms that Saudi uses, in his words, for “murdering children”. Will the Secretary of State revisit her policy on arms sales in the light of the new President’s statement or will she choose to remain in lockstep with the blood prince bin Salman instead?

Elizabeth Truss

I am proud that we have one of the most rigorous defence export regimes in the world, and those are decisions we make on the basis of our values in this country.

In a statement, a Government spokesperson said: The UK operates one of the most comprehensive export control regimes in the world. The Government takes its export responsibilities seriously and rigorously assesses all export licences in accordance with strict licensing criteria.