HC Deb 26 June 1979 vol 969 cc124-5W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to link the sale of Harrier to the Government of the People's Republic of China to the conclusion of other commercial contracts between the United Kingdom and China; and if he will now amend this policy so as to separate the Harrier negotiations from any commercial linkage and encourage the earliest completion of the Harrier contract, without any strings attached.

Mr. Pym

The Government wish to improve relations generally with China; and we expect that any sale of Harrier aircraft will be part of a wider relationship which will also include civil trade. We will naturally continue to do all we can to encourage a speedy and successful conclusion to the Harrier negotiations.