HC Deb 22 May 1995 vol 260 cc382-3W
Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to send a delegation of hon. Members and military experts to East Timor to assess whether British arms including Hawk aircraft are being used against the local civilian population by the Indonesian army. [25168]

Mr. Goodlad

None.

We have closely considered the latest allegations that Hawk aircraft have used to attack villages in East Timor and found no evidence from any source to support them.

Our embassy staff visit East Timor regularly, as do other western diplomats. The all-party Anglo-Indonesian parliamentary group visited East Timor from 17 to 19 September 1994.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees he has received that Scorpion tanks exported to Indonesia will not be used against either Indonesia or East Timorese civilians. [25169]

Mr. Goodlad

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 2 March,Official Report, column 716.

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