§ Q2. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister if he will amend the security ban on information about arms deals.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MartenWhile I realise that there are certain difficulties about this, is it not time that the Prime Minister had another look at this matter and allowed Ministers to give more information to Parliament about it? Now that we have an arms salesman who is determined to maximise arms sales, how can this House properly judge whether he is fulfilling his task properly if we do not know what contracts he succeeds in landing and what contracts he fails to land?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman will recall that the practice of not disclosing information about arms sales is the normal safeguard of the customer's interest. If one disclosed too many details, the sales would, of course, fall. The hon. Member was a Minister responsible for defending this policy of not giving details, and our practice is exactly the same as the practice which he defended.
§ Mr. PowellIs not this ban extremely convenient for the Prime Minister, in view of his undertaking that we should not be supplying arms even indirectly for the fighting in Vietnam?
§ The Prime MinisterThis has nothing to do with the—[Interruption.] No, it has nothing to do with this subject. We are pursuing exactly the same policy which right hon. Gentlemen opposite pursued when they were in office.
§ Mr. Michael FootWill my right hon. Friend take into account that any precedent set by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) is probably one which we ought to depart from?