§ 10. Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance the Defence Export Services Organisation has provided to Isle of Wight companies in each of the past three years. [4318]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe Defence Export Services Organisation daily provides assistance to British defence equipment companies to help them promote their products and services overseas. The assistance is available to, and used by, companies resident on the Isle of Wight.
§ Mr. FieldWill my hon. Friend point out that more than 360,000 jobs in the United Kingdom—which still includes the Isle of Wight—are dependent on sales exports and orders? I thank him and the staff of the Defence Export Services Organisation for the help that they have given and are giving to Isle of Wight companies. Does he agree that, if the Opposition's policies were ever implemented, those jobs would be at serious risk and that the Opposition's defence policies are about as reassuring as a cross-eyed marksman?
§ Mr. ArbuthnotI agree with my hon. Friend. I should also like to acknowledge the support that he has given to Pilatus Britten Norman Ltd. and to Turbine Support Ltd.—both of which are based on the Isle of Wight—in bids for overseas business. The Defence Export Services Organisation is and has been astonishingly successful. It is a magnificent blend of Government help to industry with the support of the armed services and embassies. It has also enabled us to achieve the second highest performance on British defence exports, second only to the United States. It is a great success.