HC Deb 06 August 1925 vol 187 cc1546-7
61. Mr. TAYLOR

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when an application is received by his Department for permission to export machine guns to a foreign country, inquiries are instituted by the Department to ascertain for what purposes such machine guns are required; whether during the past eight months any applications for such licences were refused or previously granted licences cancelled in favour of the Russian Republic; and what considerations govern the granting or refusing of such licences?

Mr. A. M. SAMUEL (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)

Licences for the export of machine guns to a foreign country are only issued after consideration of all the circumstances in consultation with the Service Departments and the Foreign Office. In the past eight months no applications for the export of machine guns to Russia have been received and certain licences issued under the late Government were not renewed. The last part of the question raises a question of policy with which it is not possible to deal within the scope of an answer to a Parliamentary question.

Mr. TAYLOR

Can the hon. Gentleman say what special reasons account for the export of machine guns in great quantities to Latvia during the last eight months?

Mr. SAMUEL

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question as to that. I have not yet looked into it.