§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate the nature of the differences which exist between the criteria considered in determining whether to approve arms sales to Argentina, and the criteria in the case of Chile.
§ Dr. GilbertAs I informed my hon. Friend on 18th July—[Vol. 935, c. 346.] —any proposals for the supply of defence equipment to Argentina would be considered according to our normal criteria, which include all the relevant political, security and financial considerations. In the case of Chile, the Government decided in 1974 that no new export licences for arms would be granted, but that existing contracts for the supply of naval vessels and related spares and equipment would be honoured.
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§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the normal criteria, including all the relevant political, security and financial considerations, which determine whether arms sales abroad are approved in the case of any particular country.
§ Dr. GilbertThe criteria include the proposed end-use of the item in question, the needs of the British Forces, the security of the United Kingdom, the internal political and economic situation and external political circumstances of the country concerned, the United Kingdom's economic and foreign policy interests, our international commitments, the conditions of any collaborative undertakings in which we may be engaged and any other factor which may be relevant to the particular sale in question.