§ 9. Mr. Adleyasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on relations 422 between Her Majesty's Government and the People's Republic of China.
§ Mr. BlakerI refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's speech in the House on 18 May, when he set out the Government's view of our relations with China and said that we would be looking to extend the range of our co-operation on international and bilateral issues.
§ Mr. AdleyI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, and I approve wholeheartedly of what our right hon. Friend said. Will my hon. Friend, nevertheless, give the House an assurance that the Government will adopt an active rather than a passive role in trying to help the Chinese satisfy their defensive requirements for their border with the Soviet Union? Now that the Tribune group is not exercising any decisive influence over our Government's foreign policy, will my hon. Friend make it clear beyond peradventure that the Government support the sale of the Harrier to the Chinese?
§ Mr. BlakerAs my right hon. Friend has made clear, we support in principle the sale of the Harrier aircraft to the Chinese. However, as my hon. Friend will know, commercial negotiations on that subject have not yet been concluded.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sorry, but we must move on to questions relating to the EEC.