§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he has made to his policy relating to the release of information concerning the export of military equipment to Iraq in the last three years; if he will now change his policy relating to the release of such information; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenIt has been the policy of successive Administrations to treat information about the export of specific equipments as commercially confidential. There are no plans to change this policy. In the special circumstances of Iraq, information which is not commercially sensitive has exceptionally been made public since the Gulf conflict. Since the conflict our policy has been to support the United Nations embargo on exports to Iraq.