§ 3.26 p.m.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in their view the proposed deployment to the Contras of (British) Blowpipe weapons by the United States (Jane's Defence Weekly, November 1st 1986) will contribute to a favourable outcome of the Contadora process or enhance Britain's role at the next meeting of European Community, Central America and Contadora Foreign Ministers due to be held in 1987 in Guatemala.
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, as we have consistently made clear, a favourable outcome to the Contadora process requires the utmost restraint on all sides, which includes a reduction in arms levels in the area. The Government continue to work for a political solution to the region's problems and believe that the next EC, Central America and Contadora Foreign Ministers' meeting will contribute to this.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, have the Government seen the factual article referred to in the Question, which is about how the 100 million dollars aid to the Contras in Nicaragua is to be spent, where it states that half of it is to go on surface-to-air missiles, among which will be the British manufactured Blowpipe missiles, delivery of which to the Contras is expected in February 1987? Can the Government say whether or not this is true? If the Government do not know, can they say whether they are taking any steps to find out? If they find out it is true, what will they do?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, it is not normal practice to comment on individual equipment export matters. However, in this particular case the Government have made it clear that they do not believe that the problems of the region can be solved by armed force and have called for a reduction in arms levels. A supply of Blowpipe would be inconsistent with this policy.
§ Lord BeswickMy Lords, may I ask whether President Reagan agrees that Blowpipe weapons have been sent there?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, I do not think that that is a question for me.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, would the Government take a further look at the possibility of extending the useful control known as end-use certificates to arms exports to the United States, given the lengthening list of countries into which that country is running armed rebels, and the increasing likelihood that the more arms we sell to the United States the more they will be used to destabilise or overthrow legitimate governments in countries with whom we have friendly relations?
§ Lord TrefgarneNo, my Lords.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, the noble Lord's answers lead me to ask him this question: are the British Government aware of the destination of armaments sold abroad by armament maufacturers in this countyr? Were Her Majesty's Government informed by the United States Administration that these Blowpipe missiles were to be sent to the Contras in Nicaragua? It is an unsatisfactory state of affairs, and I think the House would appreciate a clear reply from the noble Lord.
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, the position was outlined by my noble friend Lady Young on 15th April in a Written Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Kennet.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, that is a totally unsatisfactory reply. Would the noble Lord clearly say what control Her Majesty's Government have over armaments manufactured in this country and sent abroad? Is it possible that Her Majesty's Government, or some agency of Her Majesty's Government, would have known that these British weapons were going via the United States to the Contras in Nicaragua?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, if I can refer to the report which appeared in Jane's Defence Weekly, to which the noble Lord has referred, I can tell him that I know of no basis for that report.