§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the sale of Rolls-Royce Avon jet engines to Chile was made with the agreement of his Department, when the sale took place, if the agreement to service these engines was made with the agreement of his Department, if so, when; and if he will ensure that they are now returned to their owners.
§ Dr. GilbertAll sales of defence equipment require the agreement of appropriate Government Departments, including the Ministry of Defence. The contracts in question were signed in 1966, 1969 and 1972.
The arrangements made in 1969 for servicing the Avon engines were a commercial matter between Rolls-Royce and the Chilean authorities. On the last part of the Question, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry on 12th June 1978.—[Vol. 951, c. 354.]