asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the defence treaty with the deposed Government of Libya will be revised; and whether the proposed sale of Chieftain tanks to that country is now to take place.

I have seen Press reports of statements by the Libyan Prime Minister that the new Libyan Government do not intend to renew the Anglo-Libyan Treaty of Friendship and Alliance. The Libyan Government have however declared their intention of honouring their international obligations. As regards the sale of Chieftain tanks, the position remains as I stated in the House on 17th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 305–14.]

Can my right hon. Friend recall his statement in that debate that they were a friendly Government? They are no longer a friendly Government. Does he recall that the intention of Her Majesty's Government was to provide this so-called friendly Government with Chieftain tanks? Can he answer this very simple question? Are the Libyan Government to receive these Chieftain tanks, and for what purpose? What treaty provides for this? If they are not to have the Chieftain tanks, why not provide them for the Israeli Government, who are friendly?

What I made clear in that debate was that this sale at Chieftain tanks was in accordance with the treaty which we had with the then Libyan Government, which is still in force. Quite apart from the question of its possible renewal in the future, the present Libyan Government have made clear their intention of honouring their international obligations, and we would propose to do the same.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that when we debated this matter he said that there were strings attached to the sale of Chieftain tanks? Is it not clear now that there will not be a defence agreement and that the strings he referred to are about as valid as bits of macaroni? Can he explain this?

That is not so. The tanks are provided in accordance with the terms of the treaty as I then explained it to the House, and that still prevails.

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory reply by my right hon. Friend, I will raise this matter at a suitable opportunity.