Arms Sales (Hansard, 22 March 1977)

§ 13. Miss Joan Lestor
asked the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances Her Majesty's Government refuse arms sales to other countries.

§ Dr. Gilbert
When consideration of the political, security and financial factors involved lead to us to conclude that it is right to do so.

§ Miss Lestor
Does the Minister agree that the Labour Government have demonstrated that commercial considerations in the supply of arms are secondary to the questions of human rights in the receiving countries—as has been the case with our policy on Chile and South Africa? Will he bear in mind President Carter's recent statement about commercial considerations and the supply of arms and consider putting pressure on our EEC partners in relation to the supply of arms particularly West Germany's supplying of nuclear power stations to Brazil, in view of conditions in that country?

§ Dr. Gilbert
All I would say is that while I have a certain sympathy with my hon. Friend, these are questions for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

§ Mr. Amery
Will the Minister assure the House that there will be no restriction or embargo on the supply of arms to Zaire, which is currently suffering aggression from Soviet-dominated—[Interruption.]—or Cuban-Soviet-dominated Angola?

§ Dr. Gilbert
I hope that I have followed the right hon. Gentleman's question. I repeat that as a Defence Minister my responsibility relates to the security requirements of this country with respect to arms sales. Matters of foreign policy are for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

§ Mr. Frank Allaun
I support the British Government's ban on arms sales to South Africa, but is that policy not being undermined by subsidiaries of British companies such as ICI, Plessey and Racial, which are selling direct to the South African Government? Whether or not it is the Minister's responsibility, will he raise the matter in the Cabinet and seek to influence British companies to stop their subsidiaries undermining Government policies?

§ Dr. Gilbert
As I made clear to my hon. Friend on 8th February this year, the Government do not have any general powers to interfere with the export of information to South Africa or to prevent firms, by whoever they are owned, from manufacturing any product in that country. However, I have already made clear that we would be seriously concerned if British firms with interests in South Africa were acting contrary to the spirit of Government policy.