§ Mr. Steelasked the Prime Minister upon what criteria the decision was made for the Ministry of Defence to sell Chieftain tank parts to Iran in the context of the general guidelines of Her Majesty's Government for the export of weapons to Iran and Iraq.
§ The Prime MinisterThe spares concerned were due for supply under an existing contract, having been fully paid for prior to the 1979 Iranian revolution. The decision was therefore entirely consistent with the guidelines set out by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary in his reply to the right hon. Member on 29 October 1985 at column454.