HC Deb 03 December 1992 vol 215 cc364-5W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy relating to the release of information on the export of British defence equipment to(a) Argentina and (b) Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken

The policy of successive Governments has been to treat information about specific defence exports as commercially confidential. In the special circumstances of Argentina and Iraq, information that is not commercially sensitive has exceptionally been made public.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his oral remarks of 23 November,Official Report, columns 705–6, if he will now release information on the export of British defence equipment to Argentina; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken

Information on the export of defence equipment to Argentina was given in the answer to question 7 of the minutes of evidence before the Foreign Affairs Committee on 10 November 1982. A defence equipment embargo has been in force since the 1982 Falklands conflict.