§ 7. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the criteria for determining the countries to which Great Britain is prepared to sell arms.
§ Mr. MasonQuestions about Government policy on the criteria for determining the countries to which Great Britain is prepared to sell arms are really for my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to answer. But it is Government policy to consider sales of equipment to any country, subject to the relevant political, military, security and financial criteria and our obligations to our allies.
§ Mr. NewensIs there not a strong case for refusing to sell arms to both sides in a potential conflict—for instance, Israel and her Arab neighbours—and for refusing to sell arms to exceptionally repressive regimes such as those of Iran, Indonesia and Brazil? Is there not also a strong 349 case for revising the criteria, especially as all the countries that I have mentioned were invited to participate in the recent defence sales exhibition?
§ Mr. MasonThis is more a question for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. As far as the Middle East is concerned, we always examine arms requests to make sure that they will not endanger a just and lasting peace in that area. Iran is a member of CENTO and an ally and is entitled to make requests for arms.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that those who engage in the horrible traffic of arms used to be castigated by the Labour Party as merchants of death, yet the Labour Government now seem to be proud that they are one of the main salesmen of arms in the world, selling to both sides in disputes and to the poorest countries in the world? Is he not ashamed that while the Government are refusing aid to these poor countries they are increasing their capacity to kill?
§ Mr. MasonThe hon. Gentleman is wrong in saying that we are one of the leading arms salesmen. We are far behind America and Russia and it is a matter for argument whether we or the French are a very poor third. The hon. Gentleman and the House should recognise that we take a moral stance on a much higher plane than any other country with the capacity to sell arms and that this has damaged our relations with many nations.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunWould my right hon. Friend consider following the moral stance and example of Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and many other countries which refuses to sell arms to any country involved in or likely to become involved in a war?
§ Mr. MasonMy hon. Friend is quite wrong. Germany sells arms abroad and is reconsidering its policy about selling more. Japan does not have the capacity to do so.
§ Mr. AmeryDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that as Soviet influence moves progressively, with the sale of arms, into Angola, Mozambique, Somalia and some other African countries, it is important that we should do everything we can, on reasonable commercial terms, to ensure that countries such as Kenya, Zaire, 350 Zambia and South Africa receive adequate supplies of military equipment?
§ Mr. MasonApart from South Africa, these countries occasionally make requests and, depending on the criteria, they all receive the same consideration.