§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have offered to provide training for the Bahrain National Guard; whether they have considered or are considering the licensing of arms exports for use by this body; and what information they have about the human rights aspects of internal security policies in Bahrain. [HL177]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanIt is our general policy not to disclose details of British military assistance given to other countries. Disclosure could damage our own, and wider, international relations. This policy is, however, under review in line with our commitment to greater openness in government and the House will be informed when this review is completed. We obtain information from a range of sources, both public and private (e.g., non-government organisations, the media and reporting from our Embassy in Manama).