Foreign Forces (Training)

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 February 1991.

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Photo of Mr Tony Banks Mr Tony Banks , Newham North West 12:00, 19 February 1991

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any consideration is being given to a review of training facilities offered to the military forces of foreign governments in the light of events in the Gulf.

Photo of Sir Archie Hamilton Sir Archie Hamilton The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence

Our policy on the provision of military training for overseas countries takes into account a wide range of factors and is kept under continuous review.

Photo of Mr Tony Banks Mr Tony Banks , Newham North West

How can the Minister justify the fact that until March 1990, we were training Iraqi military personnel in this country? When Saddam Hussein was gassing the Kurds and invading Iran, we were supplying him with technology and training his military forces. When will the Government realise that when we accept money from every tinpot dictator who wants to send his troops here we are acting against the long-term interest of not only British troops in the Gulf, but all the British people?

Photo of Sir Archie Hamilton Sir Archie Hamilton The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence

The hon. Gentleman should get things in perspective. Since 1979 we have trained the forces of 110 different countries.

Photo of Mr Tony Banks Mr Tony Banks , Newham North West

How many more of Saddam Hussein's forces are we training?

Photo of Sir Archie Hamilton Sir Archie Hamilton The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence

I totally accept that with the advantage of hindsight we would not have trained the Iraqis. However, the hon. Gentleman is now showing the wisdom that we would be at war with Iraq which no one else was able to do.

Photo of Mr Cyril Townsend Mr Cyril Townsend , Bexleyheath

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is greatly to the credit of this country that so many students from overseas wish to come to our training establishments? Perhaps they pick up some good ideas about relationships between politicians and service men. Does he also agree that they give us quite a lot of cash in the process?

Photo of Sir Archie Hamilton Sir Archie Hamilton The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence

That is absolutely true. Much of the training that we provide leads to export sales and the whole business of training for the armed services cements relationships with a number of countries.