§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on arms sales to Middle East countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JuddThe Government's policy on the supply of arms to Middle East countries has been stated on a number of occasions, for example by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 25th November 1975. It is that we are willing, in the light of our judgment of the long-term policies of the State in question, to consider requests from Middle East countries for items the supply of which in our view would not endanger the achievement of a just and lasting solution to the dispute between the Arabs and Israel. This continues to be our policy.