HC Deb 15 July 1975 vol 895 c437W
54. Mr. Hunt

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the United Kingdom's adverse balance of payments position, he will make it his policy that no purchases of foreign guided weapons will be made either for the Royal Navy or for the Army.

Mr. William Rodgers

No. It is not always possible to meet all our requirements from home production. Besides industrial and balance of payments implications, we also have to take due account of the operational needs of the Services and the benefits of standardisation within NATO.