§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Defence Sales Organisation queried an urgent request for spares from Argentina ten days before the Falklands invasion and whether they received ministerial instructions to fulfil the order.
§ The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Viscount Trenchard)My Lords, under the licensing arrangements in operation prior to the invasion, spares ordered direct from industry would not be monitored by the Ministry of Defence. Routine releases of naval spares were made from RN store depots on 19th February and 22nd March in accordance with long-standing arrangements in support of contracts concluded many years ago. These totalled only £1,500 in total value. On 30th March, a request by the Argentine authorities to expedite delivery of further naval spares already on order was declined at official level.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, is the Minister aware that by sinking the cruiser of our recent customer, the Government have committed mass murder on the high seas?
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, are the Government further aware that this action has caused a massive swing of world sympathy towards Argentina and, in order to prevent further loss of life, will the Government call for an unconditional cease-fire without delay?
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, I think that the noble Lord's supplementary question has nothing whatever to do with the Question that he tabled.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, would my noble friend agree that at the moment the important thing is to keep the families and friends of those involved in the Falkland Islands from feeling bewildered and alarmed? Would not remarks such as that which has just been made be best told to the marines?
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend's sentiments on this issue. As a result of 1044 Statements this afternoon, we shall have an opportunity to raise the more general points in relation to the current emergency.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, is it not an appalling situation that, within a few days of the Argentine's occupation of the Falkland Islands, this country should have been providing weapons to Argentina which will be used in this conflict against our own soldiers?
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, I have already made clear the extent of the supply of spares. Over past years the list of weapons sold to the Argentine has been evenly spread between Administrations, including those of which the noble Lord has been a supporter; certainly in the past his party has, in this world as it is, agreed to supply certain arms under the usual criteria.