§ Q4. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister if he will outline Her Majesty's Government's present policy about the sale of arms.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is the general policy of Her Majesty's Government to promote the sale of British defence equipment to allied, Commonwealth and other friendly Governments. The political economic, strategic and security considerations are examined in each case before an export is approved.
§ Mr. MartenAre the Government intending to appoint a super salesman on the lines of the American appointment of a super salesman for arms?
§ The Prime MinisterI think there is a very strong desire that we should make more effective arrangements for placing British arms particularly for our allies because, as I said in a speech at the N.A.T.O. Conference, one of the things which was unbalancing the situation in 277 the alliance was the very high pressure salesmanship of America, as we found when we tried to sell to Germany, Italy and France. The Americans themselves said they would welcome our appointing what the hon. Member calls a super salesman, and this we shall do.
§ Mr. OrmeIs my right hon. Friend aware that some arms sold to Iraq have been used against a very fine minority of people, the Kurdestan people in that country, to suppress them? Will he make representations to the Iraqi Government to desist using British arms for this purpose?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a much wider question. One of the considerations that apply when Ministers have to review the sale of arms is whom they are going to, for what they are intended and whether it is in British interests that they should be sold.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasFollowing the Prime Minister's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten), how would the Prime Minister define a friendly Government?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. and learned Gentleman spent so many years at the Foreign Office that if he has not learned how to define it, it is not for me to teach him.