§ Mr. Squireasked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government will make a formal protest to the United States Government at the recently announced embargo on the import of speciality metals into the United States of America for their military equipment.
§ Mr. HurdThe Government have already expressed strong concern to the United States Administration about the legislation passed by Congress limiting the ability of the United States Department of Defence to purchase speciality metals from abroad. This legislation, embodied in the fiscal year 1982 Defence Appropriations Act, is potentially damaging to prospective sales of British defence equipment. The Government have been assured that the United States Administration intend to submit new legislation to amend the Act and overcome the problem.