HC Deb 29 June 1960 vol 625 cc1358-9
4. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish in HANSARD a statement showing what armaments and military equipment of various kinds have been exported to Israel, the United Arab Republic, Jordan, and Lebanon in the past two years; and what exports of these kinds are contemplated in the near future.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No, Sir. It is not the practice to disclose information about arms supplies to foreign Governments.

Mr. Driberg

Could the Foreign Secretary at least say in a general way whether this traffic is continuing unabated or whether there has been some lull, on each side, in recent months or years? Would it not be a sensible thing, short of the remoter possibility of general disarmament, to start with an agreement to limit arms supplies to these danger areas of the world?

Mr. Lloyd

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State, in an Answer he gave last January, tried to set out the general considerations to which we adhere. I think I can say to the hon. Member that my feeling is that the arms traffic, as he calls it, has to some extent abated. I agree that it is very necessary for all concerned to exercise restraint in this kind of area.

Mr. Shinwell

In view of the confused situation in Iraq, can the Foreign Secretary say whether we are still exporting arms to that country?

Mr. Lloyd

Not without notice.