HC Deb 21 February 1935 vol 298 cc526-7
47. Mr. SUMMERSBY

asked the Prime Minister whether the commission set up to inquire into the manufacture and supply of arms by private enterprise will be by its terms of reference enabled to deal with the position, in international law, of small nations who have no arms, factories of any sort and who must buy military material, if they need it, from someone else?

The PRIME MINISTER

The Government have, after careful consideration, just given the Royal Commission their terms of reference. I doubt whether it is a good procedure for the Government now, in answer to questions in Parliament, to give interpretations in detail of the scope of those terms.

50. Lieut.-Colonel Sir ARNOLD WILSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the total declared values of casualty-producing weapons for which export permits have been granted by his Department for the past three calendar years?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The information my hon. and gallant Friend desires is not readily available and its compilation would, I fear, involve a great deal of trouble and expense.