HL Deb 29 January 1968 vol 288 cc599-600

2.39 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what exports of arms to Nigeria have been permitted from the United Kingdom since the beginning of the civil war between the Federal Government and the East (Biafra).]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)

My Lords, it is not the practice of Her Majesty's Government to disclose details of arms exported to other Governments.

LORD BROCKWAY

But is it not the case, my Lords, first, that there have been ministerial statements in another place and, secondly, that there have been published reports of this matter? Could my noble friend confirm, for instance, that during the last three weeks aircraft from Gatwick, each loaded with 10 tons of ammunition, have been flown to Lagos?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, this is a matter to which thought has been given by Her Majesty's Government. The Government which we recognise in Nigeria is the Federal Military Government and we have felt it right that we should continue to supply reasonable quantities of arms to that Government. I think it would be wrong for me to comment in regard to the various newspaper reports.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether it is not the case that a statement has been made by the Government that only previous contracts and spares would be supplied? And is it not the case that this is not an issue limited to law and order, but a conflict of fundamental issues of race and the future Constitution of Nigeria? Would it not be much better for the Government to concentrate on bringing this tragic civil war to an end rather than on supplying arms to one side or the other?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I must confess that I am not aware of the statement to which my noble friend refers, but I am sure he will appreciate that, while we deplore the tragic and sad civil war in Nigeria, we have been supplying Nigeria with pretty well all its military equipment, and in the present circumstances we think that we should continue to supply reasonable quantities of arms to the legal Government of Nigeria. I would make it clear that none of these weapons are what can be described as mass destructive weapons, such as bombs and aircraft of that class.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, could my noble friend tell me what precedents there are for this Government providing arms for one side during a civil war?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I am sure that there are plenty of precedents, unfortunately, when countries have been involved in civil war. We have a responsibility to support the legal Government and this we must continue to do.

LORD BROCK WAY

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that his statement is a very serious modification of previous declarations by Her Majesty's Government, and that I should like to take an early opportunity of raising the whole issue again before the House?

LORD GOODMAN

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that grave disquiet exists in this country as to whether or not terms such as "legal Government" have any application to this dispute at all, particularly in relation to the outrages which undoubtedly have been perpetrated on Biafrans?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I should not wish to enter into a discussion as between the two sides in this tragic war, but the noble Lord must appreciate—I am sure that the House does—that there is a legal Government in Nigeria and that we are bound to support it. That is all we are doing. Within the limits we have imposed, weapons are being supplied in reasonable quantities.