HC Deb 02 June 1980 vol 985 c588W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish a list of the countries to which Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to authorise the supply of arms and spare parts.

Mr. Hard

Her Majesty's Government observe their obligations under the mandatory United Nations arms embargo against South Africa and the decision taken by European Community Ministers in April to ban exports of defence equipment to Iran. The United Kingdom embargo imposed in 1974 on arms exports to Chile remains in force and is under review. In addition Her Majesty's Government is not prepared to authorise the supply of military arms and spare parts to: Albania, Mongolia, North Korea, Vietnam, or member countries of the Warsaw Pact.

Sales of arms and spare parts to other countries are considered case by case on their merits.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will take steps to secure a greater degree of uniformity in the imposition of arms embargoes with the Allies.

Mr. Hard

The only arms embargoes imposed by a number of countries have been those against South Africa and Iran. We have no reason to believe that those involved do other than honour the mandatory United Nations arms embargo on South Africa and the embargo agreed among the Nine on exports of defence equipment to Iran. There is close co-operation with our allies on the control of the export of strategic goods, including arms, to certain other countries.