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Proceeding contribution from Denis MacShane (Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 15 March 2010. It occurred during Debate on Defence in the World.


Defence in the World

It is roughly for the same reason why, on the day that the Falklands war broke out 28 years ago, the very first call received by Margaret Thatcher, the then Prime Minister, was from François Mitterrand, offering her all the details, capabilities and research technology behind the Exocet and the Super Etendard. He understood instantly what was at stake. The rumour goes—I am sure it is only a rumour—that within a day, British arms salesmen were going round their clients saying, "You see what happens if you buy from the French? They betray their secrets to someone else."


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
507 c635 
Session
2009-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Armed forces Defence Deployment Defence equipment National security Nuclear weapons Public expenditure Proliferation Terrorism Security Afghanistan
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk