HC Deb 03 July 1980 vol 987 cc698-9W
Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he any longer has reason to expect or to help Zambia prepare to defend itself against attacks by military aircraft from Zimbabwe.

Mr. Hurd

We have no reason to expect that Zambia will need to defend itself against attacks by military aircraft from Zimbabwe. Apart from completing the residue of the programme of assistance which Her Majesty's Government undertook in 1978 we have no further plans to provide assistance in this field.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many British personnel and British paid assistants are currently employed in the vicinity of Lusaka in connection with Rapier anti-aircraft defence systems; why, on Zimbabwe's becoming an independent member of the Commonwealth, he did not recall those British military technicians sent to Lusaka in the late 1970s to assist in the air defence of Lusaka against attacks from Zimbabwe ; and if he will now approach the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and the President of Zambia with a view to terminating arrangements that exist for Great Britain to provide military assistance to Zambia on the basis that Zimbabwe might launch air attacks on its capital city.

Mr. Hurd

There are no British personnel or British-paid assistants currently employed in the vicinity of Lusaka in connection with Rapier anti-aircraft defence systems.

No British military technicians were sent to Lusaka in the late 1970s to assist in the air defence of Lusaka against attacks from Zimbabwe.

No arrangements exist for Her Majesty's Government to provide military assistance to Zambia on the basis that Zimbabwe might launch air attacks on its capital city.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much money he spent in 1979 and how much he expects to spend in 1980 on providing Zambia with military equipment specifically intended for the air defence of Lusaka against air attacks from Zimbabwe.

Mr. Hurd

Expenditure on the air defence equipment supplied to Zambia amounted to £2.663 million in 1979. Some equipment, mainly spares, was not immediately available and the cost of these items, totalling about £1.2 million, will fall to be met in 1980.