Iran-Iraq War (Hansard, 1 July 1987)

§ 6. Mr. Andrew MacKay
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position in the Iran-Iraq war.

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
As I told the House on 26 June, we are most concerned that this tragic conflict continues after almost seven years. We are continuing to play a constructive role in discussions in New York aimed at finding a negotiated settlement.

§ Mr. MacKay
Will my right hon. and learned Friend take the opportunity to put the mind of the House at rest on two points? First, will he assure us that every possible action is being taken to ensure that British shipping in the Gulf is being adequately protected; and secondly, that under no circumstances are arms being sold to either of the combatants?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
Our policy on the sale of arms is well known. We refuse to sell to either side defence equipment which would significantly enhance its capability to prolong or exacerbate the conflict. That policy has brought us no thanks from either side, but we believe that it is appreciated by the wider international community. To protect our shipping, we maintain the Armilla patrol in the area to offer reassurance and help British ships in an emergency. We keep the operations of that patrol under constant review in the light of changing circumstances. Since January about 120 merchant ships in transit through the Straits of Hormuz have been covered by ships of the Armilla patrol.

§ Mr. Rooker
That being so, may I ask the Foreign Secretary why, in answer to question 3, he sought to boast at the Dispatch Box about the number of British jobs protected by the immorality of allowing the office at 4 Victoria street to continue? How can he make that boast, but at the same time say that the Government are not doing anything to prolong the war? Either we are selling a lot of arms to protect a lot of jobs by maintaining that office in Victoria street, or we are not.

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
The hon. Gentleman's question is naive, even for him— [Interruption.] Let me make the position clear. There is a total ban on arms sales along the lines that I have described. That has been firmly maintained for a number of years. However, there is still ample scope for commercial trade unrelated to arms. That commercial trade sustains a large number of jobs in British industry and is of great importance. I am astonished that the hon. Gentleman does not care about that.

§ Mr. Dickens
Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that within the Iranian consulate in Manchester there were those who were IRA sympathisers and who joined in IRA marches in London and Dublin? Is it not possible that if we had not closed that consulate in Manchester we would have found that some of the weapons that were being used——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. This is a mile wide of the conflict.

§ Mr. Dickens
I am now saying: is it not possible that some of the weapons that are being used in the Iran-Iraq war could find their way into Northern Ireland?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I suppose that all things are possible, but it is a rather remote question from the one before the House.

§ Mr. Healey
Bearing in mind the disastrous history of the multi-national force in Lebanon and the stupefying confusion of recent American policy towards Iran, can the Foreign Secretary assure the House that the Royal Navy will not be ordered or allowed to join in the provocative American actions in the Gulf and that Her Majesty's Government will instead seek, through the United Nations, international protection for shipping in the international waters of the Gulf under the aegis of the Security Council?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I cannot follow the right hon. Gentleman in the terms in which he opened his question. He knows perfectly well that it is our intention to see that all people concerned exercise the utmost restraint in this area and refrain from any action that might lead to a further escalation and a widening of the dispute. Our Navy and the French Navy are present for the purposes that I have described. They keep in close touch with each other and with the United States Navy. However, there is no question or intention of formal integration. We shall continue to promote the action that I described in the original answer at the United Nations and elsewhere to try to bring the conflict to a close.