§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the provisions of inter-Government agreements such as the memorandum of understanding between the United States of America and the United Kingdom relating to sales of defence equipment from the United Kingdom to the United States of America of the speciality metals amendment of the Military Appropriations Bill 1983; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieCongress has waived the need for United States speciality metals to be incorporated in "Weapons and Weapons Systems" procured under the two-way street. We are awaiting formal advice on how this waiver is to be interpreted, but there could be an impact on those United Kingdom companies producing equipment at the sub-system and/or component levels and those exporting raw materials. Clearly the loss of the full waiver for speciality metals as passed in the FY 83 Appropriations Act is contrary to the spirit of the 1975 memorandum of252W understanding with the United States and if the partial waiver for "Weapons and Weapons Systems" still imposes restrictions on the export of United Kingdom defence material to the United States under the two-way street we must press for amending legislation to be introduced.