---

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether British-made components are being used in the Israeli-occupied territories by the Israeli Defence Force on (a) Apache helicopters, (b) Merkava tanks, (c) Huey helicopters, (d) armoured personnel carriers and (e) F16 jets; and if he will make a statement. [13669] Mr. Bradshaw: We have no evidence that equipment or components manufactured in the UK and licensed for export by this Government have been used by Israeli forces against civilians in the occupied territories during the recent and continuing violence. We would be concerned if such evidence came to light. We look at all export licence applications to Israel on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated National and EU criteria, taking careful account in each case of the nature of the equipment and the proposed end-use and end-user in light of the circumstance prevailing at the time. This means inter alia we will not issue licences where there is a clear risk that the equipment might be used in internal repression, international aggression, adversely affect regional stability or prolong internal conflict. We are keeping the situation under close review.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

374 c744W; 13669

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Armed conflict Arms trade Components Defence equipment Armoured fighting vehicles Exports Export controls Helicopters Tanks Israel Occupied territories Apache helicopters F-16 aircraft

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk