Debates between Tobias Ellwood and Bob Blackman during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Thu 28th Jan 2016
Tue 5th Jan 2016

Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

Debate between Tobias Ellwood and Bob Blackman
Thursday 28th January 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

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Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
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Will my hon. Friend outline the extent of humanitarian aid Saudi Arabia gives to Yemen? I believe it is extensive. If so, is that the action of an irresponsible country?

Tobias Ellwood Portrait Mr Ellwood
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The full coalition is doing a wide variety of things, in addition to the military campaign, which we read so much about in the papers. It is not just Saudi Arabia; it is Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and so forth. As areas are liberated, so the coalition follows on with stabilisation capability to provide security and support and to allow a transition from war to peace. All the Arab countries are very much involved in that.

Saudi Arabia

Debate between Tobias Ellwood and Bob Blackman
Tuesday 5th January 2016

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Tobias Ellwood Portrait Mr Ellwood
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I touched on that in my statement and have made it very clear that no aspect of our commercial relationship with Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, prevents us from speaking frankly, and indeed openly, about human rights challenges. We will not pursue trade to the exclusion of human rights; they can and should be complementary.

Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
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My hon. Friend quite rightly refers to Saudi Arabia as a key ally, and to the emphasis on preventing further executions, so can he make it clear to the House what efforts were made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in advance of the executions to prevent them taking place at all?

Tobias Ellwood Portrait Mr Ellwood
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We were not informed when the executions would take place, and once they did we were in touch with the authorities immediately.