§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries from which buyers(a) have been and (b) will be invited to the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition being held at Farnborough from 31 August to 5 September. [1766]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The purpose of the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition, which this year takes place jointly at Portsmouth and Farnborough, is to show a wide range of British defence equipment to representatives of countries with whom we have friendly relations. The equipment on display ranges from British built ships at one end of the scale to such items as communications equipment and Air Defence Radar at the other end of the scale.
The Government takes seriously its commitment to Article 51 of the United Nations charter which affirms the right of nations to self defence. Export licences for equipment on display will, however, be granted only on a case by case basis where the Government is satisfied that such equipment will be used neither for external aggression nor for internal repression. The Government is currently reviewing the criteria under which export licences will be issued.
The following countries have been invited to send delegations to RNBAEE 97:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Finland
221 - France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- PRC
- Qatar
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkey
- UAE
- USA
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Zimbabwe.