§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors underlie the continued sale of Hawk jets to Indonesia. [11832]
§ Mr. FatchettThe decision to authorise the issue of the current licences to export 16 Hawk Aircraft to Indonesia was announced to the House on 21 November 1996,Official Report, column 676.
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 28 July, Official Report, columns 26–29, the present Government were not responsible for the decisions on export licences made by the previous Administration. We do not, however, consider that it would be realistic or practical to revoke licences that were valid and in force at the time of our election.