§ Mr. McWilliamasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those countries which tender for his Department's ammunition contracts; and what information he has as to which countries invite tenders from United Kingdom ammunition producing companies.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIn recent years, tenders for Ministry of Defence ammunition contracts have been invited from Austria, Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the United States of America. A substantial number of countries invite tenders from United Kingdom ammunition companies. However, it has been the consistent policy of successive Governments not to disclose particulars of defence sales business with other countries, as these are matters of commercial confidentiality.