§ Sir Irvine PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government will continue to support the export of defence equipment. [25910]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotUK defence exports have been a major success story for this country.
With a reducing home defence budget it is vital that we export if we are to maintain our defence industry which supports around 400,000 jobs. Between a third and half of the industry's output, by value, is for exports.
Selling more abroad also brings down the cost of equipment for our own forces and enables us to sustain our essential technology base.
In 1995, despite vigorous international competition from the US and France in particular, the UK won defence equipment contracts worth approximately £5 billion. This gave Britain the second highest market share ever. In no other major industrial sector have we managed to achieve nearly 20 per cent. of the world export market.
Maintaining a strong British defence industry is important for our national security, for the economy and for jobs. The responsible exporting of defence equipment to our friends and allies makes an important contribution to world peace and stability through deterring the expansionist aspirations of unfriendly and aggressive regimes. Article 51 of the UN charter clearly states the right of all nations to self-defence.
Moreover, the UK has a very strict policy on the control of exports of defence equipment. We promote the sale of British defence equipment overseas only in support of our national and international obligations and only where it is compatible with out political, strategic and security interests.