§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the countries invited to send representatives to the British Army equipment exhibition at Aldershot; and which accepted;
(2) if he will list the countries invited to send representatives to the symposium at HQRA Woolwich on Monday 21st June; and which accepted;
(3) if he will name the representatives of Brazil who attended the British Army equipment exhibition.
§ Mr. William RodgersI have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 11th May 1976.—[Vol. 911, c.125–6.]
§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the success of the British Army equipment exhibition; and if he can give a preliminary estimate of the value of orders placed for equipment by countries which sent representatives.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe object of the exhibition was to display to potential100W customers, within the rules laid down by Her Majesty's Government, a wide range of British ground force equipment available for purchase. This it did successfully. The question of immediate orders did not arise.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his policy to advise British suppliers of equipment shown at the British Army equipment exhibition to accept contracts from Israel and Arab countries alike.
§ Mr. William RodgersContracts are accepted, on merit, within the rules for defence sales Her Majesty's Government lay down.