§ 56. Mr. Mikardoasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have sought assurances from the Saudi Arabian Government that military equipment supplied by the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia will not be used against Israel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonA formal understanding for the sale of Tornado, Hawk and PC-9 aircraft to Saudi Arabia was signed on 26 September. Negotiations of a detailed memorandum of understanding will be concluded early next year. We have no reason to believe that Saudi Arabia intends to use Tornado and other aircraft supplied by Britain for other than its preferred aim of all-round deterrence. Saudi Arabia and her neighbours in the Gulf co-operation council face a number of threats, notably because of their proximity to the theatre of the Iran-Iraq war and the danger of Soviet expansion in the Horn of Africa.