§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on arms sales to Peru and Ecuador following the outbreak of fighting in January in the long-standing border dispute. [42021]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe Government's policy is to support sales of UK defence equipment where this is compatible with our political, strategic and security interests. At all times, we have followed our established and public practice of considering individual sales to Peru and Ecuador on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the international guidelines to which we are committed. We shall continue to process applications on a case-by-case basis. Some licence applications for the export of military equipment were not approved during the period of heightened tension between Peru and Ecuador. The recent reduction in tension between the two countries is encouraging.