HL Deb 01 June 1998 vol 590 c15WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the present state of negotiations concerning the proposed licensing of the manufacture in Turkey of the HK33 assault rifle, by Royal Ordnance (owned by British Aerospace); and to what extent such a licence can be reconciled with an ethical foreign policy. [HL1783]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Her Majesty's Government understand that a contract has been signed between Heckler and Koch, a subsidiary of British Aerospace, and the Turkish Government for the supply and manufacture under licence of HK33 assault rifles. As rifle parts will be sourced at least initially in Germany, no application has been made in the UK for an export licence. The decision lies with the competent German authorities.