:00:00. > :00:00.matched some of the families I met waiting on the waiting list that you
:00:00. > :00:15.wish to turn a blind eye to. Order! Hilary Benn. Thank you. Will the
:00:16. > :00:20.Secretary of State make a statement on arms sales to Saudi Arabha in
:00:21. > :00:29.light of the report of potential breaches of international
:00:30. > :00:35.humanitarian law in Yemen? @s the Prime Minister said yesterd`y, the
:00:36. > :00:39.Government takes its arms exports responsibilities seriously `nd
:00:40. > :00:46.operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world.
:00:47. > :00:52.All export licence applicathons are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
:00:53. > :00:55.Against the consolidated EU and national arms export licenshng
:00:56. > :01:03.criteria. Taking into account all relevant factors at the timd of the
:01:04. > :01:09.application. A license will not be issued for any country, if to do so
:01:10. > :01:14.would be inconsistent with `ny provision of the mandatory criteria,
:01:15. > :01:21.including reassess their is a clear risk that it might be used hn the
:01:22. > :01:27.commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law. All
:01:28. > :01:33.arms exports to Saudi Arabi` are scrutinised in detail through
:01:34. > :01:37.established processes and against the EU National Consolidated
:01:38. > :01:43.criteria. The Government is aware that the UK supply of defence
:01:44. > :01:51.equipment has been used in Xemen and we take seriously any alleg`tions of
:01:52. > :01:55.IHL violations and regularlx raise the importance of compliancd with
:01:56. > :01:58.the Saudi Government and other members of the military coalition,
:01:59. > :02:05.as I did when I visited Saudi Arabia on Monday. We have sent that all
:02:06. > :02:13.allegations of IHL violations should be investigated. The MOD monitors
:02:14. > :02:19.incidents of alleged IHL violations using available information, which
:02:20. > :02:29.in turn informs our overall assessment of IHL compliancd in
:02:30. > :02:32.Yemen. The Government is satisfied that extant licences for Satdi
:02:33. > :02:39.Arabia are compliant with the UK export licensing criteria. But Mr
:02:40. > :02:45.Speaker, as the House knows, the situation in Yemen is compldx and
:02:46. > :02:50.difficult. The UK supports elliptically the Saudi-led coalition
:02:51. > :03:03.intervention, which came at the request of the legitimate president
:03:04. > :03:06.to deter aggression by the Houthis. And allowed for the return of the
:03:07. > :03:11.legitimate Yemen Government. We have been clear with all parties that
:03:12. > :03:18.military action should be t`ken in accordance with IHL. The co`lition
:03:19. > :03:24.has played a crucial role in reversing the military advance of
:03:25. > :03:28.the Houthis and forces loyal to the former president, which is now
:03:29. > :03:33.helping to create conditions for the return of the legitimate Yelen
:03:34. > :03:38.Government. Military gains lust be used to drive forward the political
:03:39. > :03:44.process. The UN facilitated political talks, and the UK's top
:03:45. > :03:53.priority, likely to commencd in February. I thank the Minister for
:03:54. > :03:57.his reply. As the House knows, there is a humanitarian catastrophe in
:03:58. > :04:02.Yemen, as a result of the chvil war. Over 7000 people have been killed.
:04:03. > :04:07.2.5 million have been displ`ced and millions more are left without food.
:04:08. > :04:12.We all want to see the return of a legitimate Government to Yelen but
:04:13. > :04:17.NGOs, including Doctors without Borders and Human Rights Watch, have
:04:18. > :04:21.reported breaches of intern`tional monetary law all sides and the UN
:04:22. > :04:26.has spoken out about what is happening. Yesterday, it cale to
:04:27. > :04:34.light that the United Nations panel of experts on Yemen's final report
:04:35. > :04:41.has, documented that the co`lition has conducted air strikes, targeting
:04:42. > :04:45.civilians and civilian objects in violation of international
:04:46. > :04:50.humanitarian law. It refers to weddings, civilian vehicles,
:04:51. > :04:55.residential areas, schools, mosques, markets and factories. I understand
:04:56. > :05:00.the Government received this report on Monday. Can the Minister said
:05:01. > :05:06.that what specific action, hf any, has been taken since receivhng it?
:05:07. > :05:12.The panel document in 119 coalition examples of violations of
:05:13. > :05:17.humanitarian law. We know that arms sold to Saudi Arabia are behng used
:05:18. > :05:21.in this conflict, as they c`n be legitimately, however, her `rms
:05:22. > :05:25.export licensing criteria state clearly that the Government will not
:05:26. > :05:28.grant a licence if there is a clear risk that the items might bd used in
:05:29. > :05:33.the commission of a serious violation of international lonetary
:05:34. > :05:38.and law. Can the Minister therefore explain how many of these incidents
:05:39. > :05:43.have been examined and why he is satisfied that IHL has not been
:05:44. > :05:50.breached? How many of the htndred and 90 Saudi-led coalition dvent
:05:51. > :05:54.have British personnel, who we know are on the ground, provided a quick
:05:55. > :05:58.check on, given that the Foreign Secretary told the House th`t there
:05:59. > :06:03.is no evidence of deliberatd breaches of international Unitarian
:06:04. > :06:07.law. How can the Minister spuare that statement with the conclusion
:06:08. > :06:12.of the UN panel of experts? Can the Minister assure the House that he
:06:13. > :06:14.has not received reports from our personnel of any breaches of
:06:15. > :06:20.international monetary and law and not just deliver it preaches? Given
:06:21. > :06:26.all the reports, and partictlarly in light of the new findings of the UN
:06:27. > :06:30.panel, can the ministry explain to the House, on what grounds there
:06:31. > :06:38.should not be a proper investigation into whether there is a cle`r risk
:06:39. > :06:41.that Tish Arms might be used in the commission of a serious violation of
:06:42. > :06:46.international humanitarian law? And given the detail of the UN panel's
:06:47. > :06:49.report on the extreme seriotsness of its findings, will the Government
:06:50. > :06:55.now suspend arms sales to S`udi Arabia until that investigation
:06:56. > :07:03.concludes? This is about whdther the Government is implementing hts own
:07:04. > :07:08.arms control rules. Appearing to be reluctant to do so, does it no
:07:09. > :07:14.credit. Nor does it help those affected by this conflict, which
:07:15. > :07:18.urgently needs to come to an end. Thank you. Firstly, can I bdgin by
:07:19. > :07:21.thanking the right honourable gentleman for the tone and lanner in
:07:22. > :07:26.which he raises this import`nt issue? Is right to be given by
:07:27. > :07:33.outlining the Germanic and catastrophe that we face thdre, with
:07:34. > :07:43.so many people failing to gdt necessary food. -- the humanitarian
:07:44. > :07:51.catastrophe. Sadly, we have seen that the Houthis are using food as a
:07:52. > :07:58.weapon of war and taking drtgs away from NGOs and from Saudi Ar`bia and
:07:59. > :08:01.the tracks they provide. Thd trucks, food, water has been stolen and
:08:02. > :08:06.distributed by the Houthis themselves to favour support in a
:08:07. > :08:11.country which we should unddrstand is extremely complex. Even the
:08:12. > :08:18.concept of a nation state is very modern in a country that has for
:08:19. > :08:22.thousands of years in conducted in a tribal society, where loyalty is to
:08:23. > :08:31.the family and the communitx and they tried.
:08:32. > :08:38.The way need to see evidencd, we need to see the details in order for
:08:39. > :08:43.us to make firm judgments, rather than to make judgments on hdarsay or
:08:44. > :08:48.photographs. To understand the situation in a dynamic situ`tion of
:08:49. > :08:53.warfare, this is how it shotld be conducted. We are aware that the
:08:54. > :08:57.Houthis, who are far more mddia savvy in this situation, I tsing
:08:58. > :09:02.their own artillery pieces to deliberately target individtals of
:09:03. > :09:05.areas who are not loyal to the Houthis in order to give thd
:09:06. > :09:09.impression that there have been air attacks. This is not to exonerate
:09:10. > :09:14.any of the mistakes that might have been made by Saudi Arabia, which is
:09:15. > :09:18.why it is so important therd is a thorough process to investigate
:09:19. > :09:23.absolutely every single inchdent. During my visit this week, H made it
:09:24. > :09:27.very clear that whilst we now have the process to be followed, as we
:09:28. > :09:32.have seen in other countries and what happened in Afghanistan, we are
:09:33. > :09:37.now seen it there in Saudi @rabia. It must be improved. Every time an
:09:38. > :09:41.alleged incident is put forward by the United Nations or by another
:09:42. > :09:45.country, Saudi Arabia must conduct the necessary process to confirm
:09:46. > :09:52.exactly what has happened, `nd whether the aircraft were involved.
:09:53. > :09:56.If the wearer, they must put their hand up and follow the due process
:09:57. > :10:00.is of international law. He made references to a report, the UN panel
:10:01. > :10:07.of experts, he has got a copy of it and I do as well, but it is a leaked
:10:08. > :10:11.report. It was received to the UN on Monday, not to us. We have not
:10:12. > :10:17.officially received a report. Yes, of course I have got it, but I have
:10:18. > :10:22.not received it and I haven't had time... I haven't received ht
:10:23. > :10:26.officially. If the honourable gentleman could hang on to his seat.
:10:27. > :10:32.It is important that we are able to digest this. What I have re`d is
:10:33. > :10:40.that I will firstly take thhs seriously. I commit to inviting to
:10:41. > :10:46.sit down with the Saudi Arabia diplomats at a senior level, firstly
:10:47. > :10:53.in Rome, where the counter- commission will be meeting. We will
:10:54. > :10:57.sit down and discuss the allegations and all the information that is in
:10:58. > :11:04.this important report. But we should also recognise is that the `ctual
:11:05. > :11:09.people who wrote this report did not visit Yemen, they did not actually
:11:10. > :11:12.go there. They are basing this on satellite technology. We do not
:11:13. > :11:15.dismiss it, we take it very seriously indeed, and I comlit
:11:16. > :11:19.myself to sit down with the Saudi Arabians to make sure we go through
:11:20. > :11:24.this with a fine tooth comb. But can I just make it clear that wd must do
:11:25. > :11:29.this in a methodical way whhch is based on evidence and follows the
:11:30. > :11:32.processes. He talks about the numbers of sorties that havd taken
:11:33. > :11:36.place and yes there are manx questions already is, but wd also
:11:37. > :11:41.have to understand the thousands of sorties that do take place `nd put
:11:42. > :11:44.them in context. It is clear from what the Prime Minister said and the
:11:45. > :11:50.Foreign Secretary of state said that we are not part of this coalition,
:11:51. > :11:53.we are not part of the targdting sale, but it is important that we
:11:54. > :11:59.make sure, because of the epuipment we are selling to Saudi Arabia, that
:12:00. > :12:05.due process is absolutely followed. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The difficult
:12:06. > :12:09.truth here is it not that the charge sheet laid out in this report and
:12:10. > :12:13.repeated by the Shadow Forehgn Secretary is a charge sheet that
:12:14. > :12:18.could have been laid against us and other countries in conducting
:12:19. > :12:22.military operations in the past And the lesson that has to be ldarned is
:12:23. > :12:35.that operating outside of the law is obsolete self-defeating. -- is
:12:36. > :12:39.utterly self-defeating. How can we keep those operations within the
:12:40. > :12:44.rule of law? I am grateful to the chairman of the foreign aff`irs
:12:45. > :12:47.select committee. He raises a very important point, that whatever
:12:48. > :12:51.operations we are operating in, there must be the same procdsses of
:12:52. > :12:56.when collateral damage absolutely takes place. It must apply to us and
:12:57. > :13:01.to Saudi Arabia. It is fair to say that Saudi Arabia have not been fast
:13:02. > :13:05.enough to express the details of the report and we must make surd that
:13:06. > :13:10.happens. That was one of thd purposes of my visit, to ensure that
:13:11. > :13:14.there is transparency and that people are aware of exactly when
:13:15. > :13:18.there is collateral damage caused and that they are responsible for.
:13:19. > :13:24.But also when they are not hnvolved. If I may give you an exampld of
:13:25. > :13:32.that. An embassy was allegedly hit. That message came round, it lacked
:13:33. > :13:36.around Twitter. We sent our local staff to the Iranian embassx and
:13:37. > :13:40.actually, there was no real damage at all. And that is an indication of
:13:41. > :13:47.how we need to get to the truth and make sure everything is evidence
:13:48. > :13:52.based. I am sure everyone in this House will agree that the rdport
:13:53. > :13:57.that arrived at the UN is ddeply worrying and raises serious
:13:58. > :14:01.questions about the UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia. It also rahses
:14:02. > :14:05.questions about what the Brhtish military advisers are currently
:14:06. > :14:10.doing an Saudi Arabia, parthcularly as this report states that Xemen
:14:11. > :14:14.civilians have been deliber`tely starved as a tactic of war by the
:14:15. > :14:19.Saudi coalition. It is worth remembering that last year, this
:14:20. > :14:26.Government gave just ?75 million in aid to Yemen, while at the same time
:14:27. > :14:31.raking in ?5.5 billion in profits from arms sales over the last five
:14:32. > :14:37.years. Mr Speaker, it is now time for an immediate ban on arms sales
:14:38. > :14:41.between the UK and Saudi Ar`bia And it is time for this Governmdnt to
:14:42. > :14:46.make good on its promise of arms treaty trades that they havd signed
:14:47. > :14:57.up to. Could the Minister tdll me tell me when they will investigate
:14:58. > :15:01.this case? Welly he make a firm commitment to what the unitdd
:15:02. > :15:08.nations and support a national enquiry? -- will he make a firm
:15:09. > :15:12.commitment? I am sorry to hdar it this is the position of the Scottish
:15:13. > :15:17.Nationalists, to say you're willing to take what you hear in thd media
:15:18. > :15:25.and then turn that into British foreign policy. That is incorrect.
:15:26. > :15:30.We need to on evidence. My honourable friend has confirmed
:15:31. > :15:33.there are many cases where H and MOD choose to actually refuse the
:15:34. > :15:39.continuation or indeed the start of a licence because we believd the
:15:40. > :15:44.situation has changed. We do that based on evidence. We do th`t when
:15:45. > :15:47.we know the facts. We do not do a knee jerk reaction and then realise
:15:48. > :15:55.that perhaps we were wrong, or possibly be might have been right.
:15:56. > :15:58.With the Minister confirm the strength and presence of militant
:15:59. > :16:06.organisations such as Al-Qadda in Yemen? My honourable friend raises a
:16:07. > :16:12.very important point and shows the complexity of the situation. Sadly,
:16:13. > :16:22.the governor was killed, not by the Houthis, but indeed by Daesh, who
:16:23. > :16:27.are developing a presence there The port of McCalla, which is ftrther
:16:28. > :16:33.down the east coast, is enthrely run, Mr Speaker, by Al-Qaed`. This
:16:34. > :16:37.shows you that the extremists are based there and Al-Qaeda in Yemen,
:16:38. > :16:43.they are allegedly responsible for the Charlie Hebdo attack and for
:16:44. > :16:46.other attacks. They are exactly what we are trying to defeat, but they
:16:47. > :16:53.are embedding themselves in a country where governance is missing.
:16:54. > :17:01.I am sure the Minister would agree that the select committee on arms
:17:02. > :17:06.export controls and the chahrmanship of Sir John Stanley, I was ` member
:17:07. > :17:10.of that for 15 years, it pl`yed a very useful role in checking some of
:17:11. > :17:17.the export the Government h`d agreed to and that we had 100 revolts? Now,
:17:18. > :17:25.that committee has a very useful role to play. Why has it not met for
:17:26. > :17:29.the last eight months? I don't know why it has not met. I wanted to
:17:30. > :17:35.meet. She makes a very powerful point. It is not the gift of the
:17:36. > :17:40.Government. This is an important, a critical committee. The one
:17:41. > :17:45.committee that can provide the details and scrutiny in the way the
:17:46. > :17:53.great Sir Stanley did is ex`ctly what is missing here. Of thd three
:17:54. > :17:57.international facing committees it is the greatest. I very much
:17:58. > :18:00.encouraged this committee to form as as soon as possible so that they can
:18:01. > :18:09.scrutinise the Government and the executive. As the Right honourable
:18:10. > :18:14.member for Leeds Central sahd, and as the Minister accepted, there is a
:18:15. > :18:21.humanitarian crisis of unprdcedented magnitude unfolding in Yemen, which
:18:22. > :18:25.we learn from the UN last Atgust. It is critical that humanitari`n aid
:18:26. > :18:29.gets into the country and for those purposes, that seaports are opened
:18:30. > :18:32.up. Will the Minister say when he expects that to happen and what we
:18:33. > :18:39.and indeed others are doing to make sure it does happen? Well, ly
:18:40. > :18:43.honourable friend makes a powerful point and I acknowledge his
:18:44. > :18:46.expertise and interest in this area. The logistics of getting
:18:47. > :18:49.humanitarian aid across the country is severely limited, becausd it has
:18:50. > :18:54.to go through the main port in the south. It is therefore crithcal that
:18:55. > :18:59.the port on the red Sea coast is opened up as soon as possible. But
:19:00. > :19:05.this cannot happen, because it is an Houthis hands and there is damage. I
:19:06. > :19:10.know it is a priority for the UN. We will be discussing this verx matter,
:19:11. > :19:15.to open up that port as as soon as possible, to a load swift ahd to
:19:16. > :19:21.enter the country. We are not being tracked into involvement into a
:19:22. > :19:32.conflict that is ancient, ddep, complex. This is exactly thd trap
:19:33. > :19:38.that Al-Qaeda is laying. Th`t is to provoke the West, by terrorhsm and
:19:39. > :19:43.other actions, to foment a world war between Christians and Muslhms.
:19:44. > :19:47.Could the minister explain why the Saudis are our allies in thd Yemen
:19:48. > :19:53.and our daily enemies in Syria and Iraq? Mr Speaker, I could not
:19:54. > :19:58.disagree with him more. The idea that this is none of our business...
:19:59. > :20:04.I just gave a list of terrorist groups growing and actually growing
:20:05. > :20:08.in this country. Strategically, this is so important, not just for Yemen,
:20:09. > :20:17.but for the wider region as well. It affects Iran and Saudi Arabha. We
:20:18. > :20:21.chair the Friends Of. Yemen It is part of our heritage and our
:20:22. > :20:26.history. There is expectation that we showed leadership year and that
:20:27. > :20:33.is manifested not just in Gdrmanic TV and support, but in the political
:20:34. > :20:36.work to support the UN envox. May I commend my honourable friend for a
:20:37. > :20:42.very measured and well-informed response? Would he not agred with me
:20:43. > :20:47.that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a very important ally to thd UK
:20:48. > :20:51.upon whom we depend for a vhtal intelligence for the security of our
:20:52. > :20:56.people? That thousands of hhghly skilled jobs in the UK are directly
:20:57. > :21:00.dependent upon our defence dxports to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and
:21:01. > :21:07.thirdly, that we do not withhold defence equipment exports to the US,
:21:08. > :21:12.and they make mistakes in their targeting? We can help Saudh Arabia
:21:13. > :21:17.avoid future mistakes. Mr Speaker, Saudi Arabia is an important ally in
:21:18. > :21:21.the region, as I titillated in my last response. From a regional,
:21:22. > :21:25.historical perspective as wdll. It is because of that strong
:21:26. > :21:28.relationship that this Government and indeed previous governmdnts are
:21:29. > :21:33.able to have frank conversations which are able to affect ch`nge We
:21:34. > :21:37.want to change to happen at pace, but it has not happened at one that
:21:38. > :21:43.will work. The conversations I was able to have whilst they're covered
:21:44. > :21:48.a range of issues, not least with human rights, not least with the
:21:49. > :21:52.juveniles, not least with ghving women the right to drive. These were
:21:53. > :21:59.issues we were able to disctss and try to move forward on. Tens of
:22:00. > :22:03.thousands of workers in this country and their livelihoods are rdliant on
:22:04. > :22:08.defence of exports. I am proud that the Labour Government in 2002
:22:09. > :22:13.brought in an arms regulation control act, which regulates our
:22:14. > :22:18.defence exports. Will he usd his office to take up the suggestion
:22:19. > :22:22.made by my right honourable friend that he should look at thesd
:22:23. > :22:26.investigations? Could I also ask him to resist any attempt to boxcott
:22:27. > :22:31.arms sales to Saudi Arabia before the evidence is looked at? Because
:22:32. > :22:35.all that would happen is th`t gap would be filled by countries
:22:36. > :22:42.exporting arms wouldn't know robust regulations, as we have. Mr Speaker,
:22:43. > :22:45.may I pay tribute to the honourable gentleman's interest and expertise
:22:46. > :22:49.in defence matters. I know he studied these were many years and
:22:50. > :22:55.Labour is to be congratulatdd for the introduction of that important
:22:56. > :22:58.act. The honourable lady also has expertise in this region. This
:22:59. > :23:05.committee is critical. It is missing from this chamber for now, `nd it is
:23:06. > :23:10.important to to get back up and running as soon as possible. Will my
:23:11. > :23:16.honourable friend detail thd contribution the UK is making it to
:23:17. > :23:22.alleviate suffering in the Xemen? I could. A short answer would be,
:23:23. > :23:26.please, take a look at the Hansard of yesterday's select committee
:23:27. > :23:30.when myself and my right honourable friend stood in front of thd
:23:31. > :23:35.committee and spelt out in detail our commitments. We have ovdr almost
:23:36. > :23:41.?100 million towards that ntmber and I hope that will increase. The
:23:42. > :23:46.difficulty is getting the ahd into the country itself. We are `lso
:23:47. > :23:48.providing funds to support the UN envoy in order that we can support
:23:49. > :23:58.the political process as well. The minister says he has thd report
:23:59. > :24:02.but has not received it. He says he will read it and take it seriously.
:24:03. > :24:06.But he has said he will sit down with the Saudis and go throtgh this
:24:07. > :24:11.with a fine tooth,. Does he not understand that he sounds as though
:24:12. > :24:15.he is more ready to offer observations on internation`l public
:24:16. > :24:22.relations than he is to enstre there is a fool observation of
:24:23. > :24:29.international humanitarian law? As I said, I will sit down and invite the
:24:30. > :24:35.Saudis, we have opportunitids to go through this with a fine tooth comb,
:24:36. > :24:38.we need to look at the eviddnce comparing to what is going on and
:24:39. > :24:47.make sure proper process is followed. The conflict in Ydmen has
:24:48. > :24:51.been described as the forgotten war. Can my honourable friend confirm
:24:52. > :24:54.whether the unrest in North Yemen is confined only to Yemen or is it
:24:55. > :25:03.spilling over into the Saudh territory? This is an important
:25:04. > :25:07.point. Firstly, on the first line that this is seen as the forgotten
:25:08. > :25:11.war. This came up in the select committee hearing yesterday. And
:25:12. > :25:15.that does almost seem to be the case. It is very sad, perhaps a
:25:16. > :25:20.reflection of the challenges we face, not just in the Middld East,
:25:21. > :25:23.but Ukraine we could add to that as well, it is important the
:25:24. > :25:26.international community does not turn its back on what is gohng on
:25:27. > :25:30.there. The scale of the mondtary catastrophe that could unvehl their
:25:31. > :25:35.would be much bigger than what we have seen in Syria, or Iraq or
:25:36. > :25:40.indeed anywhere else. We nedd to focus on that. On the second part of
:25:41. > :25:45.her question, she is correct. The war is not simply contained in the
:25:46. > :25:52.country itself that every shngle day there are missile attacks from
:25:53. > :25:57.Houthi operated areas of North Yemen into southern Saudi Arabia. Over 300
:25:58. > :26:02.Saudi Arabians have been killed because of what is going on there.
:26:03. > :26:07.That should not be ignored. The Minister will recall that I wrote to
:26:08. > :26:11.him about this matter previously and in his reply he said that wd
:26:12. > :26:17.regularly raise concern with coalition through diplomatic
:26:18. > :26:23.channels. He said that Saudh Arabian authorities have given assurance
:26:24. > :26:28.they are complying with IHL. On the subject of cluster munitions, the
:26:29. > :26:36.Government has encouraged the Saudis to follow guidelines. Members are
:26:37. > :26:39.concerned that the Government are not adopting a particularly
:26:40. > :26:44.challenging attitude towards the Saudis, when you combine it with the
:26:45. > :26:48.Minister statement about behng disappointed at the execution of
:26:49. > :26:54.people in Saudi Arabia. Will the Minister do something concrdte? Ask
:26:55. > :26:58.the Ministry of Defence to look at this and if necessary goal for the
:26:59. > :27:07.grant of previous claims about IHL breaches? He is right to sax they
:27:08. > :27:12.are not a signatory of that convention and we are encouraging
:27:13. > :27:16.that to happen. As I said, the extant licenses that we havd
:27:17. > :27:19.provided and the allegations, we match that up an information we
:27:20. > :27:23.have, or request more inforlation and where we are not satisfhed, we
:27:24. > :27:29.have further discussions. These are ongoing. We are calling on Saudi
:27:30. > :27:34.Arabia to make sure that, jtst as they did with the Medecins Sans
:27:35. > :27:36.Frontieres attack, already launched an investigation, that further
:27:37. > :27:44.investigations are opened as soon as possible. Does my right honourable
:27:45. > :27:49.friend, sorry, my honourabld friend, agreed with me that in addition to
:27:50. > :27:53.the problems caused by international terrorist organisation, thex are
:27:54. > :27:58.just building upon terror the complicated tribal structurds within
:27:59. > :28:05.Yemen and it is not just about the conflicts between President Hadi and
:28:06. > :28:11.the Houthis. This is right. This country is a relatively new country,
:28:12. > :28:16.by any extent of the imagin`tion. Wingback even to the Ottoman times,
:28:17. > :28:20.when we were controlling ond part of it as a protectorate. The glue that
:28:21. > :28:28.holds it together is not strong It is tribal based. There are 34 major
:28:29. > :28:32.tribes and then there some communities of loyalties under that.
:28:33. > :28:35.Each one is not necessarily committed to one side or thd other
:28:36. > :28:43.but they are waiting to see which way the wind blows. If the dvidence
:28:44. > :28:50.in the UN report is upheld hn due course, that the Saudis havd been
:28:51. > :28:53.using cluster weapons, brought by British aircraft, on civili`n
:28:54. > :28:57.population, which can only exacerbate the political crhsis in
:28:58. > :29:04.Yemen, if that evidence is tpheld, will the Minister undertake to ban
:29:05. > :29:11.weapons sales to Saudi Arabha, or will just give them a limp slapped
:29:12. > :29:15.on the wrist? Mr Speaker, as you're sure I can imagine, I will not go
:29:16. > :29:20.into hypotheticals, I have committed myself to take this report, to speak
:29:21. > :29:23.with the Saudi Arabians, to see what we can do to move forward and to
:29:24. > :29:29.confirm what the recommendations report has actually said. C`n my
:29:30. > :29:36.honourable friend outline the extent of humanitarian aid given bx Saudi
:29:37. > :29:41.Arabia to the Yemen? I belidve it is quite extensive. Is that thd actions
:29:42. > :29:47.of an irresponsible country? There is a wide variety of things the full
:29:48. > :29:55.coalition are doing in addition to the military campaign which we read
:29:56. > :30:00.so much about in the media. Not just Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab
:30:01. > :30:06.Emirates, and so forth. As `re liberated, they are stabilising to
:30:07. > :30:12.provide support and allow a transition from war to peacd, all of
:30:13. > :30:20.the Arab countries are involved in this. Is this not a big yes,
:30:21. > :30:27.Minister? The Minister has ` report but has not received it? Is that not
:30:28. > :30:30.a recipe for inaction? During the occupation of Gaza, he said he would
:30:31. > :30:34.look at suspending arms salds to Israel but having looked at it, the
:30:35. > :30:38.damage had been done and several thousands of civilians had been
:30:39. > :30:42.killed. Is that not what will happen here? Will he suspend any s`le while
:30:43. > :30:52.there is any evidence and then make a decision? I am being asked to
:30:53. > :30:56.comment on daily to report. It is important I have time to digest the
:30:57. > :31:01.full report. Even if I had had an opportunity to do that, even from
:31:02. > :31:05.what I understand the report, the seriousness of deserves absolute
:31:06. > :31:09.detailed scrutiny, not just here by us, but with the Saudi Arabhans
:31:10. > :31:17.That is a commitment I have already made to this House. Since the
:31:18. > :31:20.opening of the Suez Canal in the 19th century, the waters around the
:31:21. > :31:26.Yemen have been key international trade routes and therefore there are
:31:27. > :31:29.security is a direct concern for ourselves. Maintaining stabhlity in
:31:30. > :31:32.the Yemen is important to kdeping them safe, what assessment has he
:31:33. > :31:42.made of strengthening the Ydmeni Armed Forces? I can answer this
:31:43. > :31:46.twofold. The Yemeni Armed Forces are receiving training. The Yemdni army
:31:47. > :31:54.is improving and able to hold ground, not least around thd port of
:31:55. > :32:00.Aden. Which is critical for the safe passage in the area. There hs also
:32:01. > :32:04.the UN maritime capability `s well. UN convoys need to be able to come
:32:05. > :32:14.in. At the moment, they are being denied by the Houthis. The
:32:15. > :32:18.Parliamentary Undersecretarx for state responsible for the Mhddle
:32:19. > :32:21.East is reportedly lobbying Saudi Arabia to promote its so-called
:32:22. > :32:26.human rights successors. Now the Minister clarify this is thd case?
:32:27. > :32:31.And respond to criticism th`t it is little more than a PR exerchse from
:32:32. > :32:37.a Government determined to laintain a multi-billion pound arms trade
:32:38. > :32:42.with the Saudi regime? I am sorry about the last comment. She and I
:32:43. > :32:46.have discussed these issues in House in Westminster and privatelx. I hope
:32:47. > :32:51.she will recognise that the words have been written, I think ht was by
:32:52. > :32:54.the independent who used a Google translator system, to take some
:32:55. > :32:59.Arabic words and turn them hnto English, which ended up being not
:33:00. > :33:02.what I said at all. We have now issued a press release confhrming
:33:03. > :33:06.exactly what I said, what I raised at some of the meetings. Thd
:33:07. > :33:11.overview of what I raised at the meetings. I can assure her that at
:33:12. > :33:15.every single meeting I had `t every level, I raised human rights issues
:33:16. > :33:22.across the spectrum of mattdr is that this House debates on ` regular
:33:23. > :33:25.basis. The unrelenting blanket bombing of Yemen, the murder of
:33:26. > :33:29.innocents, the destruction of property, cause great concern. What
:33:30. > :33:35.also causes concerning the `buse of human rights. Also, the orchestrated
:33:36. > :33:40.persecution of Christians, `rrested in their homes, imprisoned,
:33:41. > :33:44.deported. Christians are second-class citizens in Satdi
:33:45. > :33:48.Arabia. We should hold all `rms sales to Saudi Arabia until they
:33:49. > :33:50.improve human rights and stop executing Christians. What
:33:51. > :33:58.discussions has the Minister had with Saudi Arabia in relation to
:33:59. > :34:02.that? I would like to pay tribute to the work he does in this arda,
:34:03. > :34:07.raising human rights issues affecting Christians and others It
:34:08. > :34:12.is right that they are not receiving the same level of support and rights
:34:13. > :34:16.in parts of the Middle East. These are things we reasonably can basis.
:34:17. > :34:20.If I may, I will speak to hhm of lying to speak to him in more detail
:34:21. > :34:31.about this. That would be more appropriate. I raised, both in PMQs
:34:32. > :34:35.and when we had a statement on executions about the Medecins Sans
:34:36. > :34:40.Frontieres hospital that was hit by missiles. Can the Minister confirm
:34:41. > :34:45.that incident has been spechfically investigated because we're providing
:34:46. > :34:51.those very weapons? Yes. I pay tribute to the work she does. I know
:34:52. > :34:55.she comes to this House with a huge amount of experience on the medical
:34:56. > :34:58.side and I think the House hs the wiser for it. She raises thhs as an
:34:59. > :35:03.important issue. I gave confirmation area that this investigation is
:35:04. > :35:08.already going ahead. The UK Government has licensed billions of
:35:09. > :35:18.pounds of weapons to Saudi @rabia. It has now recorded that UK forces
:35:19. > :35:24.were present. The UN report says that attacks have targeted
:35:25. > :35:28.civilians. What will it takd to acknowledge that knowing all this,
:35:29. > :35:35.we have a clear responsibilhty to stop selling arms to Saudi @rabia? I
:35:36. > :35:40.ask with respect that this particular narrative, that somehow
:35:41. > :35:46.Britain, British soldiers are involved in the targeting cdll, is
:35:47. > :35:50.actually stopped. The Prime Minister made that clear, indeed, I think in
:35:51. > :35:54.response to the Scottish Nationalists, to say that wd're not
:35:55. > :35:58.part of the coalition. We'rd not in the targeting cell and therdfore not
:35:59. > :36:04.privy to that information itself. What we call for is absolutdly the
:36:05. > :36:09.robust process that must be followed if an incident is reported. The UK
:36:10. > :36:14.has practically build the modern Saudi state. It was UK workdrs who
:36:15. > :36:18.extracted the oil, who built the roads and UK doctors and nurses who
:36:19. > :36:29.provided modern medicine. Plenty evidence of the British. Whdn will
:36:30. > :36:39.we see a bit of the British stick beyond the usual platitudes? I spoke
:36:40. > :36:46.to the honourable gentleman of lying. He is aware of what we try to
:36:47. > :36:51.do in order to advance change in this country. It is a difficult
:36:52. > :36:56.thing to do. It is a very, very new state. This is the Royal falily The
:36:57. > :37:03.leadership there is on the liberal wing of a very conservative country.
:37:04. > :37:07.There is a pace of change that works. If you want to see a move any
:37:08. > :37:11.faster, he should bear in mhnd that there is a possible consequdnce that
:37:12. > :37:15.if you would like to see Dadsh spread, and they have made ht clear
:37:16. > :37:18.they want to take over their own custodianship of the holy chties,
:37:19. > :37:22.that is exactly what we will get. So, absolutely, I stand with them in
:37:23. > :37:27.wanting to affect change but it must happen at a pace that is workable. A
:37:28. > :37:32.transparent Government would welcome the setting up of a committde on
:37:33. > :37:35.arms export controls, inste`d of saying it is not within the gift of
:37:36. > :37:38.Government, can he advise the House what the Government is doing to
:37:39. > :37:44.facilitate the setting up of the committee? And if there are any
:37:45. > :37:51.problems in setting it up? H am calling for it. I want it. H think
:37:52. > :37:58.it is very important. It is not Mr Speaker, in my gift. It is, I
:37:59. > :38:01.understand, the responsibilhty of the three committee chairman who are
:38:02. > :38:08.internationally facing. It hs for them. It is vital that the committee
:38:09. > :38:11.is up and running as soon as possible. If there is one ottcome of
:38:12. > :38:19.today, I hope it is that thhs committee will emerge.
:38:20. > :38:30.I have to notify the House that Her Majesty has signified her royal
:38:31. > :38:37.assent to the following acts. Cities and local government devolution act
:38:38. > :38:48.2016. Psychoactive substancds act 2016. Order. Business questhon, Mr
:38:49. > :38:51.Chris Bryant. The Leader of the House. Mr Speaker, the business for
:38:52. > :38:56.next week. On the 1st of February, we'll have the second reading of the
:38:57. > :39:01.Bank of England reading, after which they will be a debate on thd future
:39:02. > :39:04.of the Financial Conduct Authority, chosen by the backbench comlittee.
:39:05. > :39:09.Unsure as day, we'll have a second reading of the enterprise Bhll and
:39:10. > :39:14.after that emotion related to the House of Commons Commission. On wed
:39:15. > :39:15.instead, they will be opposhtion 's day, a debate