Asked by: Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to change their policy on granting arms export licences to Turkey in the light of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, last updated in a Written Ministerial Statement on 25th March 2014, remains the policy for assessing all licence applications.
We continue to monitor developments in the region closely and will uphold our robust export control regime; an export licence would not be granted if it was inconsistent with any of the Criteria. This includes Criterion 1, which ensures Britain meets her international obligations and commitments, such as the arms embargos on Armenia and Azerbaijan established by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Asked by: Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Government Procurement Service was consulted on the decision by the Department for International Trade to let a contract with Quintessentially.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Quintessentially won a competitive tender in May 2016 which was carried out by UK Shared Business Services who at the time managed UK Trade and Investment’s (UKTI) procurement activity. UKTI was a joint, non-ministerial Government Department reporting to the Secretaries of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The contract was awarded by UK Shared Business Services prior to the formation of the Department for International Trade (DIT). DIT took ownership of the former UKTI’s contracts and does not hold a record of whether the Government Procurement Service were consulted (now referred to as the Crown Commercial Service).
Asked by: Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Accounting Officer of the Department for International Trade approved the decision by that department to let a contract with Quintessentially; and if so, whether they will publish her reasons for regarding it as value for money.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Quintessentially won a competitive tender in 2016 which was carried out by UK Shared Business Services, who at the time managed UK Trade and Investment’s (UKTI) procurement activity. UKTI was a joint, non-ministerial Government Department reporting to the Secretaries of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The services of the contract with Quintessentially include support to the GREAT Investors Programme through the provision of advice, logistical support and background checks, via a sub-contract to support individual investor visits to the UK. The contract was awarded by UK Shared Business Services in May 2016, prior to the formation of the Department for International Trade (DIT). DIT took ownership of UKTI’s contracts on formation.