HC Deb 18 June 1925 vol 185 cc802-3
74. Captain GARRO-JONES

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of the persons or firms to whom permission was given in 1924 for the export of any war material, including machine guns; the destination of material; and the grounds upon which the request was assented to?

Sir B. CHADWICK

In the course of a year a very large number of licences are issued for the export of arms and ammunition, but the great majority of these are for single revolvers and very small quantities of sporting arms and ammunition. To extract particulars of the licences issued for the more important classes of war material, and the grounds upon which each licence was granted, would involve very great labour, and would not necessarily show the actual exports of such material. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member will specify the classes of war material in respect of which he desires information, I shall be happy to have a return prepared showing the quantities exported and the principal countries of destination.

Captain GARRO-JONES

While I do not expect the hon. Gentleman to give a complete list, I did specify particularly machine guns in the question, and I would ask him whether permission was given to export a large number of machine guns to Russia?