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Foreign Nationals (Training)

Volume 976: debated on Thursday 17 January 1980

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asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many nationals from (a) Argentina and (b) Iran are undergoing military training in Great Britain; and what type of training is involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if it is still his policy to provide military training for Iranian nationals in Great Britain; and if he regards this as compatible with current British relations with Iran;(2) for what purpose Iranian nationals are undergoing military training in Great Britain.

A small number of officers from both Argentina and Iran are receiving military training in the United Kingdom. It is our practice to keep the details of the training we supply to foreign Governments confidential as between ourselves and the Government concerned. However, I can assure the hon. Gentlemen that the training we are providing for the Iranians is entirely educational or professional, and is in line with our view of long-term Western relations with Iran. There has been no suggestion by the Unietd States that Western countries should suspend this type of training.