§ 13. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that quantiies of cotton waste are being sent every week from Manchester to Holland; whether this cotton waste is usable in the manufacture of high explosives; whether he has official information showing that this goes to Germany; and whether he will take steps to stop the exportation?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Montagu)The cotton waste exported to Holland is not the kind ordinarily used in the manufacture of explosives. It is for the manufacture of certain classes of cotton and half woollen goods which are used in Holland and exported largely to British Colonies. Cotton waste is now consigned only through the Netherlands Overseas Trust to consignees who are known to be users in their own works of the kind of waste sent to them. No official information is in my possession showing that any waste sent from this country goes to Germany, 1455 and no cotton waste is consigned to Holland except under stringent guarantees that neither it nor goods made from it shall reach the enemy.