HC Deb 20 November 1956 vol 560 cc1543-5
38 Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will make a statement on the conditions under which the Army is entitled to use United States Military equipment supplied under the mutual security programme;

(2) what representations he has received from the United States Government about the use of United States military equipment, supplied under the mutual security programme, in Army operations in Egypt; and what reply he has made;

(3) what items of United States military equipment, supplied under the mutual security programme, have been used in Army operations in Egypt.

Mr. John Hare

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence explained in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) on 14th November, these conditions are set out in the Mutual Defence Assistance Agreement of 1950 which was published as Command 7894. The equipment referred to by the hon. Member is inextricably intermingled with British equipment throughout our forces, and I cannot say what items provided under the programme may have been used for operations in Egypt.

The United States Government issued a Press statement in Washington to the effect that the use of United States aid equipment was subject to restrictions, and I understand that a copy was sent to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence. I am not, however, aware that any more direct representations have been made to the Government on this matter.

Mr. Swingler

Is the Secretary of State for War aware that the 1950 Agreement with the United States laid down that this equipment may be used only in accordance with defence plans formulated by N.A.T.O., recommended by the N.A.T.O. Council, and agreed to by the two contracting parties, and that otherwise it may not be used except with the prior consent of each contracting party? Is it not, therefore, clear that this equipment has been used in violation of this Agreement with the United States? What explanation has been afforded by Her Majesty's Government for their failure to ask for the prior consent of the American Government and their failure to maintain proper account of this equipment?

Mr. Hare

I quite see what the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) is getting at. The difficulty, the House must believe, is that some of this equipment was in the Middle East; we cannot tell yet whether, in fact, any was used in Egypt. It is a most difficult question to answer.

Brigadier Clarke

May I ask my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War what quantity of arms and ammunition was sold by the Labour Government to Egypt during their term of office; and further may I ask if he does not think that the Opposition show enormous concern for Nasser and none for our own troops?

Mr. Speaker

I cannot think that the present Secretary of State for War is responsible for what happened before he or his Government took office.

Mr. Strachey

Will the Secretary of State for War please explain what answer his Government are going to make to the United States' representations on this matter? We fully appreciate that he cannot distinguish this equipment and whether it is being used or not; but, in that case, ought he to have undertaken the operations without consulting the United States, in direct contravention of this Agreement?

Mr. Hare

I will draw the attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence to what the right hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Strachey) has just said.