HC Deb 16 April 1958 vol 586 cc13-4W
6 and 7 Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) to which Governments assistance in arms has been given under the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Pact; what has been the form of the assistance; and under what conditions it has been provided;

(2) to which Governments assistance in arms has been given under the Bagdad Pact; what has been the form of this assistance; and under what conditions it has been provided.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No assistance in arms has been given under the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation. Her Majesty's Government's military contribution under the Bagdad Pact is confined to £500,000 a year for infrastructure. Apart from that, some assistance in arms has been given to certain individual members of the Pact. For the convenience of the hon. Member, I am circulating this information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Note of Military Assistance Provided to Member Countries of the Bagdad Pact

Iraq Supplies of arms and equipment to Iraq are governed by the Special Agreement of 1955 (Cmnd. 260) which provides for co-operation in the defence of Iraq, the training and equipment of her forces, the maintenance and operation of air-fields and installations and the maintenance of her forces in a state of efficiency and readiness. Since the conclusion of this Agreement, H.M. Government have provided by way of free assistance:

  1. (a) Two Centurion Mark VII tanks;
  2. (b) Waiver of payment of £2¾ million for our installations at Habbaniya and Shaifa in return for which Iraqi has spent this amount on arms, equipment and training from the United Kingdom (Cmd. 9695);
  3. (c) Six Venom FBL aircraft; and
  4. (d) Five Hunter VI aircraft, with spares.
In addition, we have contributed towards the maintenance and development of air-fields and other installations in Iraq, and have provided R.A.F. personnel and equipment to assist in the training of Iraqis in radar duties and the cost of the pay and allowances of British loaned personnel.

Turkey A loan of £2.9 million has been made to the Turkish Government to enable thorn to purchase and re-equip four "M" class destroyers (Cmnd. 260).

Pakistan H.M. Government have provided on indefinite loan £40,000 worth of anti-aircraft equipment. (Cmnd. 367.) In addition we have provided training facilities in the United Kingdom for a number of technicians and service personnel.

Iran As part of our offer to the Bagdad Pact of infrastructure up to the value of £500,000 a year, we have undertaken to provide early-warning radar equipment for Iran. Manufacture of this is expected to start very shortly; and we have already sent to Iran on free loan a convoy of mobile radar equipment together with instruction and maintenance staff. Training facilities in this country have also been made available for Iranian service personnel.