Supply of Arms (Hansard, 25 April 1963)

§ 4. Mr. Wall
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, if he will make a statement about the supply of arms to India and Pakistan.

§ Mr. Sandys
In accordance with the arrangements of which I informed the House on 3rd December, the British and American Governments have continued to send arms to India to meet the threat of a renewed Chinese attack.
Pakistan from time to time buys a variety of military equipment from Britain, but the bulk of her requirements has been obtained from the United States under a military aid agreement.

§ Mr. Wall
Can my right hon. Friend say how much is the value of the supply of arms to these two Commonwealth countries? Will he make it clear that any disparity is merely to assist India to withstand foreign aggression and that we in this House respect and like Pakistan and would do the same for her in any corresponding circumstances?

§ Mr. Sandys
I think that the two cases are quite different. Our aid programme does not normally include military aid and military equipment. The equipment that Pakistan obtains from Britain has been obtained by purchase. The reason that we sent these arms to India was because of the exceptional circumstances in which she was facing a grave emergency.

§ Mr. Strachey
Is it possible, within the limits of security, for the right hon. Gentleman to tell us the approximate value of the arms sent to India or under pledge to go to India?

§ Mr. Sandys
The present emergency programme of military aid to India amounts to about £20 million, so far as we and the other Commonwealth countries are concerned—and most of it comes from this country. The United States is supplying a similar amount.