HC Deb 12 June 1979 vol 968 cc216-7
8. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the sale of defensive weapons to the Government of China.

Mr. Pym

We want to enlarge our trade relations with China. We are considering Chinese requests for British military equipment and shall continue to do so on a case-by-case basis. We are willing in principle to supply some items of equipment, subject to our international obligations.

Mr. Adley

In thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to confirm that Her Majesty's Ministers will stick with the same line that our party took in opposition on this matter? Will he give an unequivocal undertaking that the Government will now expedite the sale of the Harrier to the Government of China and take rather less notice of the Tribune group than was taken by the previous Government?

Mr. Pym

Negotiations for the sale of the Harrier, which began in the time of our predecessors are, of course, continuing between the industries involved and the Chinese. Naturally we hope that a satisfactory outcome will develop in due course.

Mr. Newens

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that there is no clear line of demarcation between defensive and offensive weapons and that the supply of any form of military equipment to China would raise world tension? Does he wish to avoid this?

Mr. Pym

I do not accept that the supply of arms to China necessarily increases world tension. I accept that it is difficult, perhaps, to differentiate exactly between the purposes for which a weapon may be used but, as I have said, we, like our predecessors, are considering the possibility of selling equipment on a case-by-case basis. We are looking at it in that light and I believe that that is the best way to proceed.

Dr. Gilbert

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he proposes to apply any different criteria to those applied by my right hon. Friend in such matters as defence sales?

Mr. Pym

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave in my original answer, that is to say that, subject to our international obligations, we shall look at these requests when they come on a case-by-case basis.