Source · Select Committees · Committees on Arms Export Controls
Recommendation 39
39
Accepted
Paragraph: 116
In response to our Report, the Government should set out the steps it took in...
Recommendation
In response to our Report, the Government should set out the steps it took in respect of licences already granted prior to the October 2019 announcement. In the interest of transparency, the Government should also provide details of the additional assessments that were made and the factors taken into account in decision making in respect of exports to Turkey following its 2019 announcement. The Government Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls 49 should also set out the rationale for its December 2021 announcement that it is satisfied that decisions on all licence applications to Turkey can be taken, following a careful assessment against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria on a case-by-case basis.
Government Response Summary
Following the 2019 announcement regarding exports to Turkey, the government suspended all extant export licenses for items that might be used in military operations in Syria and conducted a thorough review, revoking some licenses and seeking assurances for others.
Paragraph Reference:
116
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government notes the Committees’ concerns regarding action taken in respect of exports to Turkey for which licences had already been granted prior to the October 2019 announcement. Following the announcement, the Government immediately suspended all extant export licences to Turkey for items that might be used in military operations in Syria. The Government then conducted a thorough review of all extant licences to Turkey to determine whether they should be revoked. This review took into account the specific circumstances of each licence, including the nature of the items being exported, the end-user, and the intended use of the items. As a result of this review, a number of licences were revoked. In other cases, the Government sought and received assurances from the Turkish Government that the items would not be used in military operations in Syria. In these cases, the licences were allowed to continue.