§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure 259W that Blowpipe missiles made in the United Kingdom are not being supplied to any Government or organisation which might supply them to Contra forces in Nicaragua.
§ Mr. EggarAllegations in the media that we have given approval to the supply of Blowpipe to the Contras are totally unfounded. Following the publication of the Tower commission report the US Government have assured us that there are no Blowpipes in Contra hands and that there is no US intention to supply Blowpipe to the Contras. We have made it clear that the problems of this region cannot be solved by armed force and support the Contadora objectives which call for a reduction in arms levels. The system of licensing exports of military equipment enables us to control the supply of arms from the United Kingdom in accordance with this policy.