HL Deb 04 March 1987 vol 485 cc624-6

2.48 p.m.

Lord Kennet

My 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 the light of evidence that the United States Administration has been preparing to buy Blowpipe missiles from Short Brothers of Belfast in order to pass them to the Nicaraguan Contras, they will henceforth make arms sales to the United States subject to a no-transfer clause.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

My Lords, no, the Tower Commission report did not suggest that Blowpipe missiles exported to the United States had been or might be diverted to the Contras.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, is it not the case that the Tower Commission reproduces as an annex to its report a document which shows Colonel Oliver North planning to obtain Blowpipe missiles from Shorts and divert them to the Contras? Are the Government aware that the Government of Afghanistan have put on public exhibition a Blowpipe missile which they say they captured from the rebels in their country, and that photographs of that missile have been published in the press? Are the Government further aware that there are quite circumstantial reports of Blowpipes being in the hands of Jonas Savimbi and his forces in Angola? If any of these reports are right, where do the Government think the missiles came from other than from the United States?

Baroness Young

My Lords, perhaps I may answer that supplementary question by saying that, following publication of the Tower Commission report, the United States Government have assured us that there are no Blowpipes in Contra hands and that there is no US intention to supply Blowpipe to the Contras.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, can the noble Baroness tell the House what procedures exist to ensure that arms exported from this country are used for the purposes specified? Can she further say a word about the company based in London known as KMS? Are Her Majesty's Government aware of the activities of that company and are they engaged in arms sales abroad?

Baroness Young

My Lords, the noble Lord will know that it is not our practice to discuss details of arms sales. So far as the KMS company is concerned, of course it is a commercial organisation.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, despite the secrecy about arms sales, does the noble Baroness agree that there is a good case for the Government to ensure that arms from this country are not transferred from the recipient country to another territory which, as is suggested in the Question, may well follow a policy of terrorism and intervention?

Baroness Young

My Lords, let me put the answer to the noble Lord's question in this way: the United States Government are fully aware of our views on the diversion of arms to the Contras, and a no-transfer clause would serve no useful purpose. With regard to other no-transfer clauses, it is not the Government's policy to comment on the details of contracts relating to individual arms sales to particular countries.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, further to the noble Baroness's reply to me, is she aware that I fully accept her integrity and accept without question what she says, and that I fully accept the Government's integrity in this matter and that they would not allow arms to be sold by this country for what may be regarded as illegal or improper purposes? Nevertheless, is she satisfied that the procedures are adequate to ensure that those arms do not go through the back door in some way without the Government knowing?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I appreciate the point that the noble Lord made in the preface to his question, but I should not have answered it if we were not satisfied with the procedures.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, does the Minister of State fully appreciate that my original Question was not intended to cast doubt on her word or that of the United States Government that no Blowpipes had gone to the Contras? It was to ask if, in view of the presence and free operation for some years of Colonel North in the White House basement, no doubt unknown to the State Department, it would not be a wise precaution to apply no-transfer agreements to the United States as we do to so many other countries?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I understand the point that the noble Lord is making. I think that I answered his question in an earlier point that I made.