§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government took any steps with regard to the office, established at Southampton by the Argentine Government, for the purpose of buying arms in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieI am not aware of any Argentine office for the purchase of arms having been established at Southampton.
Prior to the Falklands crisis the Argentine naval commission in London handled the purchase of naval equipment. This office was closed down and all staff left this country within a few days of the invasion of the Falkland Islands.