HC Deb 06 April 1976 vol 909 cc207-8
8. Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to meet the South African Minister of Defence.

Mr. Mason

I have no plans to do so.

Mr. Brotherton

Will the Secretary of State reconsider that reply in view of the ever-increasing Russian naval activity in the Indian Ocean? Will he ask his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister for permission to start renegotiating the agreement and reopening Simonstown?

Mr. Mason

No, I shall not consider it afresh, and I do not think that it is necessary to remind my right hon. Friend about Simonstown. The agreement is at an end, and if we wish to use Simonstown in future we can do so on a customer basis, as do other navies.

Mr. Atkinson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a firm called Martin Baker recently shipped to South Africa, via France, 250 rocket motors to be used as spares in Buccaneer aircraft? Is my right hon. Friend also aware that according to available information South Africa does not have sufficient Buccaneer aircraft to take those spare parts? Does not that constitute an infringement of the embargo arrangements?

Mr. Mason

I have seen Press reports, but I cannot comment on Press speculation. It appears from the reports that the spares were Martin Baker ejection seat rockets. We are obliged to provide spares where we have legally contracted to do so. I shall have to await details to prove whether there are more spares than are needed for the number of Buccaneer aircraft owned by South Africa.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that every independent nation in lawful relationship with the world community has a right of self-defence against external aggression? Will he review the embargo on British weapons that might go to the defence of South Africa against external attack?

Mr. Mason

No, Sir. The Question was whether I proposed to meet the South African Minister of Defence, and I would tell him that if I met him.

Mr. Russell Kerr

In view of the Minister's paucity of information, will he undertake to make an urgent investigation of the matter?

Mr. Mason

I suppose that my hon. Friend is talking about the Martin Baker ejection seat rockets. I shall look into the matter. If there were an infringement I should be in honour bound to tell the House, but I do not think that there has been.