§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Defence which of the classes of weapons under discussion in the Ad Hoc Committee on Conventional Weapons of the Diplomatic Conference on humanitarian law are in service with British forces, or in the process of development; whether the Defence Sales Office is prepared to arrange sales abroad 42W of classes of weapons under discussion in the above committee; and which classes, if any, have been so exported since 1967.
§ Dr. GilbertThe ad hoc Committee has under discussion the following categories of weapons: small calibre/high velocity weapons, blast and fragmentation weapons, incendiaries, and time delay weapons. The British Armed Forces, like the armed forces of other States, have weapons in all of these categories. No British weapons in service, or under development, contravene the prohibitions of international law. Subject to the usual criteria the Government are prepared to consider making available the services of the Defence Sales Organisation with respect to the sale of any such weapons as do not contravene these prohibitions. It has never been the practice to release details of defence sales.