§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements apply to end users of armaments(a) sold and (b) transferred by the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement. [129308]
§ Mr. HoonI have been asked to reply.
Most defence exports to Saudi Arabia are organised under Government-to-Government arrangements. I am unable to disclose specific details of these arrangements under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, but I can say that it is normal 374W practice to include a clause in the Memoranda of Understanding which prohibits the transfer of material to third parties without the approval of the UK Government.
For exports not covered by Government-to-Government arrangements, the risk of diversion to third parties is taken into account in considering export licence applications.