HC Deb 19 February 1969 vol 778 cc445-6
9. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that arms supplied to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies are not used outside Europe.

Mr. Healey

Members of N.A.T.O. obtain their military equipment either from domestic sources or, in the case of external supply, under individual arrangement which may include specific agreements between member countries. There is no N.A.T.O.-wide policy regarding the procurement or use of arms by member Governments.

Mr. Fraser

Does my right hon. Friend agree that there ought to be such a policy? Is he aware that I have here part of a N.A.T.O. rocket used by the Portuguese to kill citizens in Zambia? Does he realise that N.A.T.O. arms such as Sabre jets, small arms, ammunition and so forth obtained from N.A.T.O. sources are being used against the British Commonwealth? Is it not time that we had a policy in conjunction with our allies to stop this?

Mr. Healey

With great respect to my hon. Friend who produced some very interesting and important evidence on his recent visit to Africa, I think he would agree with me that the fragment of a shell which he holds in his hand was provided by a country which, although a member of the Alliance, is not a member of N.A.T.O.