The UK is increasingly giving the impression that it cares more about trade and security than human rights with the Government apparently overlooking abuses in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain, MPs have warned.

The Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee said the omission of Egypt and Bahrain from the Foreign Office’s list of countries requiring special attention on human rights helped foster the idea it "has become more hesitant in promoting and defending international human rights openly and robustly".

Last year, the Foreign Office's most senior civil servant admitted to MPs that human rights was "not one of our top priorities" and that the "prosperity agenda is further up the list".

Ministers have denied that human rights are no longer a top priority but campaign groups such as Amnesty International have attacked the UK for allowing the sale of British-made arms to Saudi Arabia which have then been used in the Yemen conflict. United Nations officials have said Saudi air strikes could be targeting civilians at hospitals, markets, schools and even at weddings in the country in a direct violation of international law.

Britain has been critcised for selling its arms which Saudi Arabia is using in the Yemen conflict (MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images)

The Foreign Affairs committee criticised Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood in particular for telling Parliament he couldn't recall whether he raised human rights while leading a business delegation to Egypt and saying that relations between London and Cairo were "in a very positive place".

"We are disappointed by his choice of language on this occasion and others, which raises questions about how energetically the Government is raising human rights issues", the committee concluded.

According to human rights groups, Egypt’s government - which took power after a coup against elected President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 - is behind the disappearance of 1,840 people in just 12 months.

Human rights attacks around the world Show all 10 1 /10 Human rights attacks around the world Human rights attacks around the world China Escalating crackdown against human rights activists including mass arrests of lawyers and a series of sweeping laws in the name of ‘national security’. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Egypt The arrest of thousands, including peaceful critics, in a ruthless crackdown in the name of national security, the prolonged detention of hundreds without charge or trial and the sentencing of hundreds of others to death. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Gambia Torture, enforced disappearances and the criminalisation of LGBTI people; and utter refusal to co-operate with the UN and regional human rights mechanisms on issues including freedom of expression, enforced disappearance and the death penalty. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Hungary Sealing off its borders to thousands of refugees in dire need; and obstructing collective regional attempts to help them. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Israel Maintaining its military blockade of Gaza and therefore collective punishment of the 1.8 million inhabitants there, as well as failing, like Palestine, to comply with a UN call to conduct credible investigations into war crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Kenya Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and discrimination against refugees in its counter-terrorism operations; and attempts to undermine the International Criminal Court and its ability to pursue justice. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Pakistan The severe human rights failings of its response to the horrific Peshawar school massacre including its relentless use of the death penalty; and its policy on international NGOs giving authorities the power to monitor them and close them down if they are considered to be “against the interests” of the country. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Russia Repressive use of vague national security and anti-extremism legislation and its concerted attempts to silence civil society in the country; its shameful refusal to acknowledge civilian killings in Syria and its callous moves to block Security Council action on Syria. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Saudi Arabia Brutally cracking down on those who dared to advocate reform or criticise the authorities; and committing war crimes in the bombing campaign it has led in Yemen (pictured) while obstructing the establishment of a UN-led inquiry into violations by all sides in the conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Syria Killing thousands of civilians in direct and indiscriminate attacks with barrel bombs and other weaponry and through acts of torture in detention; and enforcing lengthy sieges of civilian areas, blocking international aid from reaching starving civilians. Getty Images

Last month, a four-year-old was sentenced to life in prison for four murders, attempting another eight, vandalising property and threatening police officers after his name was accidentally included on a list of 115 defendants convicted in a mass trial.

The Foreign Office, the committee's report concluded, should be "more mindful of the perceptions it creates at ministerial level, especially when other interests are engaged such as prosperity and security, as is the case with China, Egypt and Saudi Arabia".

Defendants in court during their trial over violence in Alexandria in 2013 following the ousting of Mohamed Morsi (AFP)

The committee welcomed the Government's decision to increase the amount of dedicated human rights funding to £10.6m but criticised its restriction to countries receiving overseas aid.

It also called for a relaxation of rules blocking funding for groups which were not registered in their own countries, saying it "acts against an intelligent deployment of resources".

While there were concerns about the consequences of funding for unregistered groups, grants should be considered for those "which have been suitably vetted but face genuine restrictions".