HC Deb 19 December 1962 vol 669 cc1265-6
31. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will instruct Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America to inquire from the United States State Department whether any financial inducements are offered to European and other Governments to purchase arms from the United States of America in preference to weapons produced in the United Kingdom with similar capabilities.

Mr. Godber

I do not think any general inquiry as suggested by the right hon. Gentleman would necessarily be helpful.

Mr. Shinwell

Does the Minister decline to accept the implications contained in this Question? If he is not prepared to instruct the Ambassador in the United States to ask for information on this subject, will he inquire into the existence of American trade organisations, in Bonn, in Rome, and in other European capitals, of a private character which are responsible for the sale of arms, various weapons, and aircraft, and have managed to succeed in selling these arms in preference to British arms of similar capabilities, quite obviously because of some financial inducements of a private character?

Mr. Godber

No. I assume that the right hon. Gentleman is not suggesting that an inquiry should be made about purchases which are wholly financed from military aid funds. The stipulation that in any such cases the equip- ment should be acquired from the country providing the funds is well-established practice. I do not think there can be any difficulty about that. It should also be remembered that many countries, including the United Kingdom, have benefited from the offshore purchase system.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I am not referring to the military aid programme of the United States at all? I am referring to private sales of arms produced in the United States and sold in European capitals and various other countries—in preference to the purchase of British arms. Can the Minister explain why it is that British arms of similar capabilities, and sometimes superior to the American arms, are unable to be sold?

Mr. Godber

No. I think that without more specific indication of what the right hon. Gentleman has in mind it is difficult for me to help him. If he would like to write to me to put particular points, I should be happy to have a look at them.