§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) why Her Majesty's Government supplied arms to the Middle East before the recent Arab-Israeli war;
(2) what assessment he has made of the contribution of United Kingdom arms sales to peacekeeping in the Middle East.
§ Lord BalnielIt has been the policy of successive Governments to encourage the export of defence equipment to friendly countries taking into account in each case the political, strategic and security considerations involved for the United Kingdom. I am satisfied that British defence equipment supplied to the Middle East has not encouraged any State to resort to hostilities.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 141W Affairs why Her Majesty's Government did not issue any condemnation of the aggression in the recent Middle East war.
§ Lord BalnielOur aim has been to work for a peaceful settlement of the Middle East problem, not to take sides.