HC Deb 22 June 1967 vol 748 cc1947-8
Q6. Mr. Hooley

asked the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Secretary of State for Defence and the Foreign Secretary to prepare a study relating to the United Kingdom comparable to the Staff Study on Arms Sales and Foreign Policy prepared for the use of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a copy of which has been sent to him.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. The factors governing the export of armaments are kept constantly under review, and each application to export defence equipment is carefully considered on its merits.

Mr. Hooley

Does the Prime Minister recall saying that the Labour Government would concentrate on the export of the munitions of life rather than the munitions of death? Will he not agree that, even in the crudest economic terms, the export of arms may not give a good yield?

The Prime Minister

In terms of the export of peaceful munitions, of the kind quoted, our aid programme is a fulfilment of that. On the sale of defence arms, we are very anxious to conclude a world agreement, particularly banning private sales of arms, which cause so much harm in areas of tension, and to reach agreement on an arms export control system with the countries concerned. When we have raised this with, for example, the Soviet Union, we have not received very much encouragement, but we shall keep on trying.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the Prime Minister aware that when we put Questions in this House about where the arms are sent we are told that it is the practice not to disclose this? In view of the fact that people believe that arms have been sent to both sides in the Middle East conflict, does he not think that it is time that we knew where the arms were sent?

The Prime Minister

It is the practice not to give details about individual arms sales. I certainly agree with what I think is my hon. Friend's feelings, that we ought to get, if we can—and this should be part of a settlement in the Middle East—a comprehensive arms control agreement. It is no good that it should be just binding on us—it should be binding on all those countries which have been supplying arms to the Middle East.