§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether record export orders for defence equipment (£ 5.5 billion in 1993 compared with £ 5.2 billion in 1992) are to be welcomed as evidence of the United Kingdom's technical skills and as a contribution to jobs in the United Kingdom, or to be regretted as contributing to the proliferation of weapons worldwide in the hands of governments which cannot properly afford them, and of other parties whose possession of weapons may contribute to general disorder.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Viscount Cranborne)The record orders won by British defence equipment manufacturers which were worth in the region of £ 6 billion in 1993 are to be welcomed. Such figures do indeed acknowledge the technical skills of British companies. The defence industry as a whole supports 560,000 jobs, and exports make an import contribution to this total.
The UK has a rigorous system for scrutinising export licence applications on a case by case basis. We believe there is scope for meeting the legitimate defence needs of certain countries without exciting conflict, increasing tension, affecting human rights or damaging our interests. By helping countries to maintain a credible defence capability, responsible UK defence exports can also make an important contribution to regional stability, thereby serving UK strategic interests.