§ 2.40 p.m.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement on the conclusions of the visit of the Secretary of State for Defence to the Gulf States.
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, as my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence has explained in another place (Official Report, Commons, Vol. 3, col. 88, 14.4.81), his visit to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain between 23rd March and 1st April was designed to demonstrate the United Kingdom's strong interest in this region, to establish personal contacts, and to discuss both bilateral defence assistance and wider strategic questions. During his talks in the area, my right honourable friend made clear the Government's resolve to deal positively with requests for all types of military assistance and for defence equipment. He also assured all the countries involved that we were ready to consider the provision of limited military help in an emergency if invited to do so—probably in concert with our major allies.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, since the visit of the Defence Minister there has been the visit of the Prime Minister. Is it not the case that it is very dangerous to be supplying arms in this explosive area? Is it not the case that it is not merely the issue between the Soviet Union and the West but between Israel and the Palestinian issue, and even between Arab countries, and, by providing arms to different interests on different sides, are we not encouraging this area to become a crucible for a world war?
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, so far as the Prime Minister's recent visit is concerned, the Prime Minister will be making a Statement at a time which she finds appropriate. So far as the question of arms for the 1123 Middle East is concerned, we, and all other countries engaged in the manufacture of arms, do sell our arms to areas where we believe that the balance of advantage to the free world against potential aggressors and adventurers, who have shown their true colour in the recent invasion of Afghanistan, makes this a correct policy. We shall continue to follow that at their request and we shall take a positive attitude, as I have described. I hope that, in this way, the potential aggressor will be deterred from any more adventures.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, the noble Viscount has just stressed the benefits of co-operation between ourselves and our partners in the Common Market. How does he reconcile that with the fact that we are competing with the French in the sale of armaments to the Middle East?
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, I believe that two things take place in this kind of area and both, in their own field, are thoroughly healthy. There is competition, both national and international, and there is at times collaboration. For instance, a number of aircraft which we have ordered in this country are the result of collaborative ventures, and any sales of those aircraft are the subject of the collaborative agreements which have been made. But in the case of the Hawk aircraft, which was referred to in relation to the Prime Minister's recent trip, this is a wholly British aircraft and is the finest trainer-cum-strike aircraft in the world. So I think that both competition and co-operation, each in its right place, are correct policies.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he would clarify the relationship of this country in its proposed contribution to the rapid deployment force which America has suggested? Is it the case that the Prime Minister has made it quite clear that the force would be used only with the consent of the Gulf States? Is it true that the United Emirate states have rejected any facilities for such a force? Could the Minister also say whether Her Majesty's Government have made any response to the proposal, which was first made by Jordan and is now made by Kuwait and the Soviet Union, for a world conference on the Middle East to end the dangerous arms race there?
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, I do not think I can add to what my right honourable friend the Secretary of State said in the other place on 17th March, before he went on his Middle East tour, in relation to the mobile force, where we have promised—within the severe limitations of our capability—co-operation with our major allies, the Americans. We do not envisage that this force, even when it is available, should be used other than at the request of friendly nations and in accordance with their agreement. So I hope I can assure the noble Lord on that. On the question of bases, there is, so far as I know, no consideration at the present time of any land base in the Middle East, although our ally the United States—and the noble Lord will be aware of the recent visit of Secretary Haig—has been discussing with the countries of the Middle East what would be their wishes against a 1124 situation of increasing threat, which they all perceive. But at the present time no land bases are envisaged and the mobile force is a matter for discussion.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords—
§ The Lord President of the Council (Lord Soames)My Lords, I think that we should move on to the next Question. We have already had a number of supplementaries on this Question.