§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is regarding the export of arms to Israel. [77054]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI have been asked to reply.
985WAll relevant export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other announced Government policies. Our criteria clearly set out our commitment to take account of the risk that exports might be used for internal repression or external aggression. The outbreak of the intifada, continued Israeli incursions in the Occupied Territories and the Israeli breach of its assurance that UK originated equipment would not be used in the Occupied Territories have all been factored in to the Government's current export licensing policy. The UK arms trade with Israel is tiny.