HC Deb 15 February 1956 vol 548 cc255-6W
19. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied that, since the Tripartite Declaration of 1950, authorised exports of armaments to the Government of Israel by Her Majesty's Government have been equivalent to the total of arms authorised for export to countries on Israel's borders, in view of the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain parity of arms shipments to countries in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

As the House knows, the policy of Her Majesty's Government is based on the Tripartite Declaration. This provides for the supply to both the Arab States and Israel of limited quantities of arms for their internal security, legitimate self-defence and to enable them to play their part in the defence of the area as a whole. It also expresses the opposition of the signatories to the development of an arms race. It makes no reference to parity of arms shipments.