HC Deb 21 May 1986 vol 98 cc237-8W
Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will now make it his policy to publish the names of the countries invited to the British Army equipment exhibition;

(2) whether countries with records of human rights violations and countries involved in armed conflict will be invited to the British Army equipment exhibition.

Mr. Norman Lamont

[pursuant to his reply. 20 May 1986]: It is the long-standing policy of successive British Governments to issue invitations to the British Army equipment exhibition on a confidential basis. I see no reason to depart from this policy. An invitation to the exhibition does not, of course, imply that we would necessarily allow the sale of the equipment on display.