HC Deb 03 February 1986 vol 91 cc60-1W
Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he has any plans to award contracts to British industries for the production of small arms after 1 April; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what is his policy towards the awarding of small arms contracts to foreign manufacturers.

Mr. Lee

Our policy towards the awarding of contracts to foreign manufacturers remains as set out in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer of 13 January 1986 at column517.

Future small arms purchases will be made in accordance with that policy.

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the size, number and names of foreign manufacturers which have been awarded small arms contracts in 1978–79, 1980–81 and 1985–86.

Mr. Lee

In the period since 1978–79 no significant purchases of foreign small arms have been made by the MOD. Quantities of 9 mm pistols have been bought from Fabrique Nationale in Belgium. There is currently no United Kingdom manufacturer of this type of automatic pistol. During that period limited quantities of other foreign small arms have been purchased for specialist uses. For security reasons I am not prepared to give details of these other weapons.