§ 35. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secreretary of State for Defence if, in view of the Resolution of the General Council of the United Nations Association deprecating the appointment of an arms salesman by Her Majesty's Government, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will abolish this appointment.
§ Mr. HealeyNo, Sir. Her Majesty's Government have consistently emphasised that it is their firm intention to work for peace and disarmament, and the appointment of the Head of Defence Sales is not inconsistent with that policy.
§ Mr. JenkinsBut does my right hon. Friend not realise that this resolution of the United Nations Association is entirely contrary to that point of view? Does he not recognise that the "merchant of death", as he used to be called by his hon. Friends, is still a character and that Zaharov, the original merchant of death, was an amateur compared with the arms salesman whom he has appointed? Is not the economy over-attached to the sale of arms, and would it not be better diverted to other products?
§ Mr. HealeyI recognise that the United Nations Association of Great Britain disagrees with Her Majesty's Government on this matter, but that is not the United Nations. If countries require arms for self-defence, particularly allied countries, we have the same right 86 to offer arms for sale to them, unless there are over-riding political considerations which make that undesirable.