Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2019 to Question HL15082, whether UK-supplied weapons have been used in Yemen in breach of international humanitarian law; what estimate the Government has made of the number of civilian deaths in Yemen as a result of UK supplied weapons; and what steps the Government is taking to help deescalate the conflict in Yemen.

The Government operates one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. We will not issue any export licences that are inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria, including Criterion 2(c): whether there is a clear risk that the goods might be used in the commission of a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.

The UK does not routinely track the use of specific weapons once sold to another country. Our current approach is to focus on a rigorous risk assessment before a licence is issued and consider whether goods might be used in a way which is inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. The UK does not carry out end-use verification checks overseas once the licence is issued. However, we can and do respond quickly to changing international situations and review, suspend or revoke licences as necessary when circumstances require.

We have played a leading role in diplomatic efforts, including bringing together key international actors to try to find a peaceful solution. I visited the region from 25 to 29 September in support of UN efforts to make political progress and alleviate the humanitarian situation. I met Yemeni, Saudi, Emirati and Oman representatives, as well as UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and urged all parties to engage constructively with the UN Special Envoy in order to reach an enduring political settlement in Yemen. The UK has also hosted a series of Quad meetings of foreign ministers from the US, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and the former Foreign Secretary visited Aden in March, which was the first visit to Yemen by a Western foreign minister since the start of the conflict in 2015.