Saudi Arabia: Arms Sales Debate
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Lord Faulkner of Worcester
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Saudi Arabia: Arms Sales
Lord Faulkner of Worcester Excerpts(3 years, 9 months ago)
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Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
First, I acknowledge the noble Lord’s obvious deeply felt concern about this matter. The UK and Saudi have a long-standing bilateral relationship based on a number of pillars, including trade, defence, security, energy and shared concern about regional issues. Matters are changing in Saudi Arabia. We have seen progress on social reforms under Saudi Vision 2030. For example, the Saudi economy was the most improved for women’s economic opportunities, according to the recent World Bank report, Women, Business and the Law—so things are happening there and I think it is right for us to encourage that process of change in Saudi Arabia.
The Deputy Speaker (Lord Faulkner of Worcester) (Lab)
My Lords, I am afraid that the time for this Question has now elapsed. I apologise to the noble Baronesses, Lady Coussins and Lady Warsi, for not being able to call them.