HC Deb 05 December 1977 vol 940 cc537-8W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are employed in the Defence Sales Organisation in Great Britain; and how many personnel at British Embassies overseas are involved in defence sales promotion and liaison.

Dr. Gilbert

408 personnel are currently employed in the Defence Sales Organisation in Great Britain. In British embassies and high commissions overseas, the majority of Service attaches and advisers, together with senior civilian personnel in certain diplomatic posts, have responsibilities which include defence sales promotion and liaison to a greater or lesser degree: they, together with their United Kingdom-based supporting staff, number 344.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the United Kingdom Armed Forces are engaged in defence sales projects in countries of the Third world, whether in training activities or not, and whether in relation to the transfer of hardware or the development of military infrastructures; and if he will list their numbers by country.

Dr. Gilbert

Seventy members of the United Kingdom Armed Forces are engaged mainly or exclusively in defence sales projects in countries of the Third world, including personnel in a training and advisory capacity in aid of sales. It is not the practice to give numerical details of individual deployments of Service personnel.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many privately-contracted British personnel are engaged in defence sales projects in countries of the Third world; and if he will list their numbers by country.

Dr. Gilbert

I regret that this information is not readily available.