§ 1. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum offensive operational range of the Harrier; and if there is any strategic, as opposed to political, reason why Her Majesty's Government should not do their best to sell the aircraft to the Government of the People's Republic of China.
§ 6. Mr. MacFarquharasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he discussed the sale of Harrier aircraft to China during the Chinese Trade Minister's visit to London; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. James Wellbeloved)My right hon. Friend did not discuss the sale of Harrier aircraft to China during the Chinese Trade Minister's visit to London. As my right hon. Friend said on 10th November, any request for the sale of Harrier aircraft 1098 to China would be carefully considered in the light of our international obligations and policies. It is not our practice to disclose information such as the maximum offensive operational range of aircraft.
§ Mr. AdleyWill the Minister accept that the initiative in this business must come from the British Government? Does he accept the validity of Mao Tse Tung's doctrine that "My enemy's enemy is my friend"? If so, are there not overwhelming strategic, economic and employment advantages to the United Kingdom for us to take the initiative and get on with this?
§ Mr. WellbelovedI think that in matters of this nature it would be best to await a formal approach from the Government of the People's Republic of China. When that approach comes, if it comes, it will be properly considered under the normal arrangements. Our response to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question is that our main concern is to maintain the North Atlantic Alliance and our contribution to it.
§ Mr. MacFarquharIn spite of what my hon. Friend has just said about not disclosing information, will he recognise that last night the House of Commons indicated its own desire to have most things done openly? Will he, in the light of that decision, categorically tell the House whether the former Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) and the former Foreign Secretary—the present Prime Minister—did or did not undertake to the Soviet Union in 1975, or at any other time, orally or in writing, that they would not sell Harriers to China?
§ Mr. WellbelovedI am fully in favour of the maximum possible open government, and my hon. Friend has ample opportunities, if he so wishes, to seek a debate in the House on this matter. When and if we receive an application from the Government of the People's Republic of China we shall consider all the factors, including the economic and political ones. As regards the second part of my hon. Friend's question, I am not aware of any such undertaking or deal.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonCan the Minister say to what extent it would be necessary to discuss such a deal with McDonnell Douglas, as that company is 1099 already involved with the Harrier in America? Can he also say what percentage of the aircraft is still classified?
§ Mr. WellbelovedIf we receive such an application—it is purely a hypothetical matter at the moment, because no such application has been received—from the Government of the People's Republic of China we shall adopt the normal procedure of going through COCOM and then coming to a decision.
§ Mr. RoperWill my hon. Friend look very carefully into the point that was raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mr. MacFarquhar) and make sure that there was no agreement with the Soviet Government that the trade agreement that was reached in Moscow was conditional on there being no sale of Harriers to China?
§ Mr. WellbelovedI can tell my hon. Friend that if he wishes to press for information on trade agreements the appropriate Minister to ask is my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, and that if he wishes to have information about conversations that the present or the previous Prime Minister has conducted he should ask the Prime Minister.