Theresa May has refused to be drawn on whether missiles manufactured in the UK and sold to Saudi Arabia have been responsible for civilian deaths in Yemen.
The government has faced fierce criticism for selling arms to the country for potential use in Yemen’s bloody civil war which pits the Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia, against Shiite Yemeni rebels.
Ministers have faced repeated calls to impose a ban on the sale of weapons amid concerns that international humanitarian law could be being broken in the conflict.
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson yesterday demanded at Prime Minister’s Questions to know whether missiles partially built in Scotland had been responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians.
But Mrs May would not be drawn as she said the government had “pressed” Saudi Arabia to “properly investigate” any incidents of concern.
Mr Robertson said it was “inexcusable” the prime minister could not provide a guarantee.
He also urged the UK Government to “remove its head from the sand”, asking how many more people needed to die before it changes its policy.
The SNP has repeatedly called for an independent investigation into serious allegations of breaches of international law in the conflict.
Mr Robertson, newly elected as the SNP’s deputy leader, raised the issue twice at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons yesterday.
He said: “Thousands of innocent civilians have now been killed by Saudi air strikes in Yemen.
“Can you give the House an assurance that those civilians have not been killed by Paveway IV missiles, partially manufactured in Scotland under licence from your government to Saudi Arabia?”
Mrs May replied: “As you know we have one of the toughest regimes in the world in relation to arms exports.
“When these allegations arise then we have been pressing … the Saudi Arabian government to properly investigate these issues and to learn the lessons from them.”
Dissatisfied with the response, Mr Robertson continued: “It’s beyond doubt that Saudi air forces are bombing Yemen.
“Planes made in Britain are being flown by pilots who were trained by Britain and dropping missiles that are made in Britain.”
He then asked the question a second time, adding: “If you do not know the answer, how can you possibly, in good conscience, continue selling them to Saudi Arabia?”
Mrs May reiterated that the UK urges the Saudi government to conduct thorough investigations into any incidents “before we reach a decision or a conclusion”.
She said: “We have a very strong relationship with Saudi Arabia – that is important for this country.
“It’s important in terms of dealing with counter-terrorism and a number of other issues.
“But what matters when incidents happen about which there is concern is that they are properly investigated.”
