Speeches by Bryant.

“It might just be worthwhile underlining that there is a difference between the licensing regime that we have for military and dual-use material, and the conversation that we have just had, which is not about licensing in that regard at all. The figures we released on 20 April show that we have 395 extant licences in re…”

“Sorry, but I disagree with that. The only point at issue here is whether they are going to be diverted to be used by the Israeli state.”

“Yes to all of that. My only question is that I could not work out from the Spanish legislation whether it covers just goods—”

“Can we go now, then?”

“I believe so. If I have that wrong, I will write to you.”

“The central question is whether they are going to be diverted for use for the IDF, and we do not believe that that is the case.”

“That is really Stephen’s answer to give, but yes.”

“It might be worth saying something about other countries. Spain, for instance, has a system that is similar to our secondary legislation, whereby basically the Cabinet makes a pronouncement and then it has to go to both Houses within 30 days. There has been a bit of a dispute within the European Union about whether ind…”

“It is one of the complexities and one of the granular details that we have to work through.”

“You have heard me correctly.”

“They are very specific. It is trainer aircraft, missile defence systems, components for submarines, and then F-35 licences. Those are the ones that are actually going to the state of Israel. There are other licences, including a very big licence for cystic fibrosis and stuff worth £68 million, which of course would not…”

“Mr Cooper, just to be clear, we have refused and would refuse licences for components for F-15 and F-16, for precisely the reasons that you have raised.”

“I just want to be clear on the question you asked me earlier, so I do not have to write to you. Training, equipment, air defence and submarines comes to a total of £37.7 million—up to that, obviously, because of the way licences work.”

“This is the question about Watchkeeper drones, yes? We have investigated all these reports, as you would expect us to do. We understand that they are delayed, but we assess the risk of diversion to the IDF—the central question that is being asked—as very low. They are delayed, but we believe that they are still going t…”

“Yes. Obviously it will be for others to decide, because there will be a continuation or a new Government—however you want to interpret it—next week. However, we have been doing work on precisely how this would work. I just want to underline that there is a very strong moral argument for all this. There is probably also…”

“I will just say one other thing about timelines. Of course, if we are able to use the sanctions regime that already exists, or potential DBT solutions, that is better than having to rely on primary legislation. Legislation could take some considerable time and might get delayed in the House of Lords, for all sorts of p…”

“If you do not mind me unpacking it a little, it is important to get the granular detail of this right. First, obviously, these are illegal settlements. That has been the settled view of Government for a long time. Expanding and sustaining them is an illegal act. We have recognised the state of Palestine and, as Stephen…”

“It is data for the first quarter of 2027. We have some legacy issues in relation to some licences that we have to sort out, and I do not want to over-promise. That would be the worst outcome of all.”

“And whether it is both imports and exports.”

“That is true, but that is not our reading of where we are with the Watchkeeper drones.”