Human rights groups outraged by SQA deal to train Saudi government as international pariah’s forces continue ruthless bombing of Yemen
Scotland has completed a deal to provide education to the hated Saudi Arabian regime through the crisis-hit national school exams body.
British arms firms are banned from dealing with the Middle East regime, which is accused of state- sponsored murder and the bombing of civilians.
But the Sunday Mail can reveal that the Scottish Qualifications Authority has a deal to provide certificated training for all the desert kingdom’s government departments, including its defence ministry.
The SQA has come under fire over its lavish travel policy which sees executives charge the taxpayer up to £ 800 a night for hotel rooms and business class flights.
Critics have called on the Scottish Government agency too break ties with the oil state, whichich has been involved in a proxyy war in Yemen that has killed led thousands and left 40 per er cent of the country’s s 28million population on the brink of starvation.
Andrew Smith of the Campa ign Aga inst t Arms Trade said: “The e Saudi dictatorship has an absolutel y appal l ing human rights record andnd has waged a terrible war onn Yemen.
“Government agencie si es should think should think twice before entering into deals. They should not do anything that strengthens it or profits from its repressive rule.”
Another quango, the Scott ish Development International, last year scrapped plans to appoint a trade specialist amid concerns about the Gulf state’s alleged involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s regime.
A UN report said the journalist’s reremains have not been foundfou and his killers are “cloclouded in secrecy”. DespiteDes these issues, the SQA has built strong ties with the Saudi AArabian regime. In 2013 and 2014, it sent 17 officials to develop a set of educational standards. Since the bombing of Yemen began in 2015, the SQA’s international head, Alistair Shaw, has visited the capital, Riyadh, with his officials 13 times. The outgoing chief executive, Dr Janet Brown, flew to Riyadh in 2014-15, SQA documents show. In January 2017, the Saudi government announced it would use the National Company for Training and Education