Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2009): UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2007, Quarterly Reports for 2008, licensing policy and review of export control legislation - Defence Committee Contents


Memorandum from Bill Rammell MP, then Minister of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office

ISRAEL: UPDATE ON UK STRATEGIC EXPORT CONTROLS

  I am writing to follow up our telephone conversation about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's plans to issue a Written Ministerial Statement, on "Israel: Update on UK Strategic Export Controls" on Tuesday 21 April.

  Due to the complexities of the task and the recent two-week recess, we are only now in a position to provide an update to the briefing the Foreign Secretary gave to the House on 19 January. We wanted to take advantage of the session on Wednesday 22 April to discuss this with the Committee.

  Since the start of Israeli "Operation Cast Lead" on 27 December, we have sought to assess what equipment was used by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), and whether UK supplied equipment might have been used by the IDF during the recent conflict in Gaza. We are aware of the level of interest in Gaza in Parliament, the media and by members of the public. When the Foreign Secretary answered questions in Parliament on 19 January it was not completely clear what equipment had been used.

  We wanted to share with Parliament the information we have been able to gather. Since the conflict ended we have been working to complete an assessment and will now make a Written Ministerial Statement to ensure the utmost transparency on this issue. This has taken time because we wanted to ensure that we had the most complete information.

  The Ministerial Statement will take the following format.

  Firstly: Our assessment of the equipment used by the IDF in relation to Operation Cast Lead which—contrary to reports in the Press and elsewhere—we do not believe contained components supplied under licence in the UK. This will cover UAVs and Armoured Vehicles.

  Secondly: Israeli equipment which may have been involved in Operation Cast Lead and may have contained British-supplied components.

  Thirdly: Israeli equipment that was used in Operation Cast Lead and which almost certainly contained British-components. These fall broadly into two categories—equipment for incorporation through the USA and components for a 76mm gun for the Saar 4.5 naval vessel.

20 April 2009





 
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