§ 8. Mr. BUTCHERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether companies and firms trading in this country are forbidden to export varnish to neutral countries without a licence, and to consign such goods "To order"; whether varnish has been, and is being, shipped to a German firm in South America by a German firm trading in this country, and that in some cases such goods have been consigned "To order"; and whether he will take steps to put an end to such transactions?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMAN (War Trade Department)The answer to the first part of this question is generally in the affirmative by reason of the fact that varnishes are, as a rule, composed to a considerable extent of ingredients the export of which is prohibited to all destinations other than British Possessions and Protectorates. I am considering the second part of the question by reference to further information supplied to me in a letter from the hon. Member giving the names of the firms to which he refers and I will communicate with him when the facts have been ascertained.