“It retains the power to suspend export licensing where the security conditions in the export destination deteriorate to the extent that is impossible or extremely difficult to apply standard export licensing procedures.”
Following the Conservative election victory in May, Sajid Javid replaced Liberal Democrat Vince Cable as Business Secretary.
Dr Cable had held sole responsibility for issuing arms licences, with legislation stating that even the Prime Minister could not overrule the Secretary of State’s decision.
Dr Cable and his Liberal Democrat colleagues favoured a ban on all arms to Israel following the Israel Defence Force’s operation in Gaza.
While Mr Cameron and the Conservatives opposed that stance, they were unable to stop Mr Cable exercising his unilateral power.
