§ 28. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Minister of State for Defence what assistance he has provided to the British consortium led by the British Aircraft Corporation in planning a guided-missile defence system for South Africa.
§ Lord BalnielNone, Sir.
§ Mr. JenkinsCan the hon. Gentleman go a little further and say that if an approach is made by the people who are developing this project—it is called, I think, "Country 102", and the proposition is for nuclear and Thunderbird missiles to be used—he will turn it down straight away so that the people embarking upon it can stop their drawing board work and devote themselves to some more useful work?
§ Lord BalnielNo. As the hon. Gentleman knows, that is a hypothetical question. I can inform him that no commitment to sales in relation to air defence 669 systems in South Africa has been requested by the South African Government and none has been given to them.