UK is the world’s second biggest arms dealer

But campaigners say the figures should be a "source of great shame".

The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) says British-made fighter jets, missiles and bombs have been used in the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen.

Last year the Court of Appeal ruled the government acted unlawfully when it licensed the sale of arms to Saudi-led forces for use in Yemen without making an assessment on whether international humanitarian law had been violated by past incidents.

Andrew Smith, of CAAT, said: “Arms dealers will be celebrating, but these figures should be a source of great shame. Boris Johnson and his colleagues are always talking about ‘Global Britain' and the importance of human rights and democracy, but they are arming and supporting repression around the world.

“These sales are not just numbers on a spreadsheet: for people around the world they could be a matter of life and death.

“Uk-made weapons have played a devastating role in the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen, helping to create the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

“Wherever there is conflict there will always be arms companies trying to profit from it. This profiteering does not just enable war, it actively fuels it. The sales being approved today could be used in atrocities and abuses for many years to come.”

The DIT said it did not issue export licenses unless they met strict criteria. It added that the UK is "deeply concerned" about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen, and fully supports the peace process.

A DIT spokesperson said: “The defence and security industries have a strong record of export success, which helps to maintain thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK.

“We continue to support these responsible industries and help UK exporters win business overseas and achieve their international business potential.”