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Written question asked by George Galloway (Labour) on Friday, 1 March 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 March 2002. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 11 March 2002 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether British-made components are in use on (a) Israeli Apache helicopters, (b) Merkave tanks, (c) F16 jets and (d) armoured personnel carriers; and if he will make a statement.
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 in use on (a) Israeli Apache helicopters, (b) Merkave tanks, (c) F16 jets and (d) armoured personnel carriers; and if he will make a statement. [40796] Mr. Bradshaw: In answer to (a), (b) and (c), 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 continued violence. We would plainly be most concerned if such evidence came to light. New information has, however, come to light that UK supplied equipment licensed for export under a previous Administration and a different export control regime is being used by the Israelis in the Occupied Territories. The Israelis have modified a number of Centurion tanks, exported to Israel between 1958 and 1970, into armoured personnel carriers. This contradicts a written assurance that the Israeli Government gave us on 29 November 2000 that "no UK originated equipment nor any UK originated systems/ sub-systems/components are used as part of the Israel Defence Force's activities in the Territories" We shall be seeking an explanation from the Israeli Government. I shall inform my hon. Friend and the House of the outcome. We consider all export licence applications to Israel on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking careful account on a case by case basis of the nature of the equipment and the proposed end-use and end-user.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
40796; 381 c689W
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