HC Deb 24 November 1992 vol 214 cc733-5
9. Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his Ministry's policy towards the export of military equipment and technology to Iran and Iraq.

Mr. Aitken

Our policy is to support the United Nations embargo on exports to Iraq, and to permit exports to Iran only within the policy announced by the then

Mr. Janner

What assurances can the Minister give that unlawful exports of military equipment and technology will not recur, or are not continuing now? Have the Government put in place any procedures—and, if so, what procedures—to prevent unlawful exports to Iraq after the recent revelations of disgraceful exports?

Mr. Aitken

We debated these matters at great length yesterday. A little humility from the Opposition would not come amiss. After all, theirs is the party which authorised massive arms sales to Argentina when it was in government. It needs to be said that all Ministers who have been trying to exercise their judgment in a difficult area in which the conflicts are often different have been motivated by only one wish—certainly to keep within the law and certainly to act in Britain's best national interests.

Mr. John Marshall

In considering arms exports to the middle east, will my hon. Friend consider allowing exports to the only democracy in the middle east?

Mr. Aitken

Sales of defence equipment to Israel have been restricted since 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon. The restriction will remain in place until Israel withdraws completely in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 425.

Dr. David Clark

In view of the well-founded evidence that there was a lucrative, illegal arms trade from this country to Iran and that that trade was headed by a British company, Allivane, is the Minister prepared to give the House a categorical assurance that the illegal trade to Iran, which breached the Government's own guidelines, will fall within the purview of Lord Justice Scott?

Mr. Aitken

Lord Justice Scott is perfectly entitled to inquire into that matter should he wish to do so. The Allivane allegations, which have been made in correspondence and in a speech by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall) last night, have not been substantiated by the inquiries that my Department has been able to make so far. We await further evidence on the matter which has so far not been forthcoming, despite requests, from the principal figure concerned, Mr. Machon.

Lady Olga Maitland

Will my hon. Friend tell us about the considerable number of Opposition Members who have been queuing up to press the case for arms and weapons companies in their constituencies—

Madam Speaker

Order. That is scarcely the Minister's responsibility. If the hon. Lady can rephrase her question, I will accept it.

Lady Olga Maitland

Will my hon. Friend detail to us the companies situated in constituencies represented by Opposition Members which have been lining up to press their case for selling weapons to other countries? Does my hon. Friend agree that that is disgraceful in the light of the Opposition's comments in yesterday's debate?

Mr. Aitken

I think that I have got the gist of my hon. Friend's question. She is right that hon. Members have written constantly to Ministers in my Department urging us to take more and more vigorous steps to support defence exports to all sorts of countries, by no means all of which are democracies. To illustrate and amplify my hon. Friend's point, I can do no better than to quote from the distinguished commentator Hugo Young in today's edition of The Guardian—

Hon. Members

No!

Madam Speaker

Order. The Minister is perfectly correct in his quotation if he is not quoting from Hansard in the House of Lords.

Mr. Aitken

I am glad that it is all right to quote from The Guardian. I do so now with relish. Mr. Young wrote: There is a fair amount of humbug in the case against the Government. That is the position.