HC Deb 20 April 1988 vol 131 cc459-60W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom is party to(a) any United Nations agreement or (b) European Economic Community agreement prohibiting the provision of blueprints, materials or hardware for submarines to the Republic of South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker

We adhere strictly to

  1. (a) Security Council resolution 418 of 1977, which embodies the United Nations arms embargo against South Africa; and
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  2. (b) the agreement reached by Foreign Ministers of the European Community in September 1985 to refuse to co-operate with South Africa in the military sphere and on a rigorously controlled embargo on exports of arms to that country.

We would therefore not permit British companies to supply blueprints, materials or hardware for submarines to South Africa.