§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister what information she has as to resumed supplies of arms by the Government of France to Argentina.
§ The Prime MinisterThe French Government have resumed the supply to Argentina of certain arms and equipment in fulfilment of existing contracts previously subject to their embargo on arms sales to that country. We have made our views about this very clear to the French Government.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister whether the supply of (a) radar control equipment by British Aerospace, (b) Olympus gas turbines by Rolls-Royce and (c) electronic propulsion control systems by Hawker Siddeley Dynamic Engineering and British Aerospace to Blohm and Voss of Hamburg for installation in the two guided missile destroyers being built by it for Argentina was approved by Her Majesty's Government, in view of the continuation of a formal state of hostilities between the United Kingdom and Argentina.
§ The Prime MinisterI assume that the question refers to the four frigates being built by Blohm and Voss for Argentina. Approval for the supply of equipment by British manufacturers was given before contracts were signed in 1980. Delivery of the Olympus gas turbines and their control equipment for the first two frigates had been completed before the invasion of the Falkland Islands. An embargo on all further deliveries was then imposed, but this embargo was lifted at the end of August.
No radar control equipment has been supplied or been contracted for supply for these frigates.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that Westland Lynx helicopters manufactured in the United Kingdom are not being supplied to Argentina while a formal state of hostilities persists.
§ The Prime MinisterYes.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister what was the size of the United Kingdom loan to Argentina to assist in the purchase of two destroyers to be built in a West German yard; and how much is still outstanding.
§ The Prime MinisterWe have no knowledge of any United Kingdom loan to Argentina in respect of the purchase of destroyers built in the Federal Republic of Germany.