An arms giant with a bomb factory in Scotland has been criticised for failing to meet MPs to answer questions about sales to Saudi Arabia.
Raytheon, which is part publicly funded, makes laser-guided systems for smart bombs in Glenrothes, Fife.
A Saudi-led coalition has used UK warplanes and Raytheon bombs part made in Scotland in a war against rebels in Yemen that has killed around 60,000 people since bombing began on March 26, 2015.
Andrew Smith, of the Campaign Against Arms Trade, said: “It’s no wonder Raytheon is afraid to speak to MPs.
“The company has a lot to be ashamed of. Its weapons have played a terrible role in Yemen, where it’s poured missiles into a war that has killed tens of thousands of people.”
Raytheon was called to give evidence to the committees on arms export control (CAEC) at Westminster on the fourth anniversary of the bombing campaign.
But US-based Raytheon, which the Sunday Mail last year revealed got more than £200,000 in grants from jobs quango Scottish Enterprise, didn’t attend. Instead, a CAEC spokesman said Raytheon was represented by Paul Everitt, chief executive of ADS Group, an arms industry umbrella body.
MPs wanted to question Raytheon over sales of Paveway IV bombs to Saudi. But a Raytheon spokeswoman said: “Raytheon did not refuse to attend. Raytheon, like all members of our trade association, is being represented by ADS in matters of government policy.”
Last week Save The Children revealed more than 400 children died or were maimed in airstrikes over the past year in Yemen. The day after its report, a hospital it funds was bombed, killing eight, including five more children.
Kevin Watkins, chief executive of the charity, said:“Attacks like these are a breach of international law.”
Meanwhile, a report the SAS was in action in Yemen and the UK military was training child soldiers for the Saudi-led coalition is under investigation.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry told Foreign Office minister Mark Field on Tuesday Britons may be witnesses to war crimes.
Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer claimed the UK Government showed “a clear lack of interest in policing arms sales to brutally abusive regimes like Saudi Arabia”. He added: “It’s right that MPs try to intervene.”
