§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Prime Minister what procedures exist within the appropriate Departments to prevent the export of British military equipment to the Palestine Liberation Organisation; and whether she is satisfied that they are effective.
§ The Prime MinisterExport control procedures for military equipment seek to take account of all relevant factors, including the type of equipment, its proposed destination and its end use. It has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose the nature of the checks made.
I am satisfied with the general effectiveness of the controls.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Prime Minister by which Department information was possessed that the Lebanese company engaged in the transaction with Racal-Tacticom in 1982 had links with the Palestine Liberation Organisation; and when it was made known to that Department.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 18 March, at column688, by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.