Speeches by Harding.

“I am not necessarily talking about diversion; I am talking about the UAE’s activity in relation to Sudan and its conduct. Does it therefore make the UAE an unsuitable partner for the UK’s arms exports in relation to international humanitarian aid?”

“Again, to pull it away from diversion, I am talking about the UAE as a suitable partner for UK arms exports, given the reported and alleged arming of Sudan.”

“The reason the UAE is significant relates to the RSF. It was found after the fall of El Fasher that it had the hallmarks of a genocide. There was a reasonable inference of genocidal intent, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. It is widely reported and, by many, accepted that the UAE is funding the RSF, so the…”

“Minister Doughty, do you accept that the UAE is actively arming the RSF in Sudan?”

“My question was, “Do you accept that the UAE is arming the RSF?””

“Given the widespread reporting that the UAE is arming the RSF and the general acceptance that it is, what account does the UK Government take of that in making licensing decisions in general to export to the UAE?”

“Is there a reluctance by the Government to call out the UAE’s actions publicly, in that it might affect trade deals or arms sales?”

“Helen, does the UK have a strategy for Yemen other than humanitarian assistance?”

“Just to come back to what you said was group-think, where does that come from? Is it UK group-think, or diplomatic group-think?”

“You talked about the rigidity and inflexibility of the UK approach, or maybe the framework that the UK is proposing. Why has the UK come to that inflexibility? What is the reason they propose that?”

“Richard, would you like to come in there? What is your opinion on the removal of the STC; has it improved governance or stability across Yemen?”

“Do you know the size of the UK’s diplomatic mission in Yemen or what it has been historically?”

“More diplomatic engagement with Yemen would perhaps unlock this inflexibility and the rigidity of the framework. From the British taxpayer’s point of view, Yemen is surrounded by very wealthy countries that are absolutely involved in Yemen. Why should the UK get involved in this?”

“The rates of disability in Yemen seem to be very high as a population. Why is that?”

“Helen, can I ask you to give a brief overview of developments in the war over the past year?”

“What will the next role of Saudi Arabia be in Yemen, and how will it evolve in the coming months, Helen?”

“It is complicated—”

“Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating all the young people, particularly in my constituency, who have completed GCSEs, A-levels, BTECs, T-levels and degrees, and all the brilliant teachers who got them there, and will he wish them all the best for the summer holidays and a well-deserved rest? The brill…”

“My hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Charlie Maynard) has alluded to Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who are still imprisoned in Tehran. Craig Foreman is on day 61 of his hunger strike, and Lindsay Foreman is on day 50 of her hunger strike. They clearly need to be released immediately and returned to the UK. I understand t…”

“Will my hon. Friend give way?”