§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since April 1992 second hand arms have been given free of charge to other Governments for their use; on what date the decision was taken to provide 1,000 second hand self-loading rifles free of charge to the Government of Lebanon; which Minister was responsible for the decision; and what was the estimated value of the rifles. [21563]
§ Mr. Freeman-Since April 1992 my Department has approved gifts of defence equipment to eight overseas Governments. On 8 October 1993 formal financial approval was given at official level in accordance with internal departmental instructions for a gift to the Lebanese Government of surplus defence equipment to the value of £40,000. After discussion with the Lebanese authorities, it was agreed to make a gift of 500 surplus self-loading rifles to this value.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 April,Official Report, column 395, on what date the former Minister for Defence Procurement, the hon. Member for Thanet, South, was first approached by Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi about the prospects for the sale of defence equipment to Lebanon; which of the meetings held with Mr. Makhzoumi were attended by officials from the Defence Export Services Organisation; and on what date the decision was taken to sell former British vessels and arms to the Lebanon. [21609]
§ Mr. FreemanThe right hon. Member for Thanet, South (Mr. Aitken) advised officials in the Defence Export Services Organisation that he had been approached, on 6 July 1992, by Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi about the prospects for the sale of defence equipment to Lebanon. DESO officials were present at the meeting with Mr. Makhzoumi on 20 October 1993 and at the dinner in honour of the Lebanese chief of the naval staff on 17 November 1993 referred to in my answer to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North, (Mr. Wilson) on 24 April 1995,Official Report, column 395. FCO officials were present at the dinner for the Lebanese Information Minister on 25 February 1993.
88WDetails of decisions by commercial companies to sell arms and defence equipment are a matter for the commercial suppliers and the customer. In the case of Government-to-Government sales, the decision to supply the former RN patrol craft to Lebanon was taken in March 1992.