HL Deb 19 April 1999 vol 599 c141WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the displacement of a large number of people from their homes, and widespread human rights violations over many years reported by the United Nations Human Rights Commission in the South East of Turkey, they consider that arms for which export licences to Turkey have been issued might be used for internal repression. [HL1891]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Government's criteria to be used in considering applications for the export of arms are quite clear. The Government will not approve the export of goods if there is a clearly identifiable risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression. The same criteria are applied to all countries, including Turkey.