§ 51. Dr. ADDISONasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of aircraft and of aircraft engines made by British manuacturers exported during the year ended May, 1935, and, in particular, what numbers of aircraft and of 487 engines have been supplied to China, Japan, Germany, and Italy, respectively?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAs the answer involves a table of figures I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Dr. ADDISONWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the total exports were not 408 aeroplanes and 583 aeroplane engines?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThey were the total exports of United Kingdom manufacture.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman guarantee that none of these aeroplane engines will be used in bombing aeroplanes?
§ Following is the answer:
| The following statement shows the number of complete aeroplanes and of aeroplane engines of United Kingdom manufacture exported during the twelve months ended May, 1935, distinguishing those consigned to the countries specified. | ||
| — | Aeroplanes complete. | Aeroplane engines. |
| Number. | Number. | |
| Total exports (United Kingdom manufacture). | 408 | 583 |
| Of which consigned to— | ||
| China | — | — |
| Japan | 1 | 1 |
| Germany | 5 | 80 |
| Italy | 1 | 23 |
§ 59. Dr. ADDISONasked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that aircraft engines of types similar to those supplied to British air forces have been supplied to other nations by British firms during the past year, he has taken any steps to secure that British requirements have priority of supply?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)Yes, Sir. Steps are taken to insure that the required deliveries to the Royal Air Force are not prejudiced.
§ Dr. ADDISONIn view of the fact that last year 583 aeroplane engines and 483 aeroplanes were exported, may I ask how long these arrangements have been in existence to secure priority of supply for British requirements?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThere has always been a very close contact with the firms working for His Majesty's Government in order to ensure what the right hon. Gentleman quite rightly asks, namely, that we make sure that we get our machines when we want them.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree with aeroplane manufacturers in this country supplying engines to Germany and other countries for their bombing planes?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAs long as we have an export—
§ Mr. SPEAKEROrder. That question does not arise out of the question on the Paper.
§ 60. Dr. ADDISONasked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that aircraft engines of types similar to those supplied to British air forces have been supplied to other nations by British firms during the past year, he is taking any steps to secure that those designs and types whose development has been assisted by the Air Department and officers and services under its direction are being safeguarded for those national purposes which the assistance rendered was designed to serve?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, Sir. Adequate steps are taken to safeguard the interests of national defence in this matter.
§ Dr. ADDISONIn view of the fact that experiments in the elaboration of designs are largely assisted by the right hon. Gentleman's Department, may I ask what steps he can take to prevent the designs thus elaborated being incorporated in the machines included in this vast volume of exports?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNor is this anything new. For years past all the service departments have had arrangements with the firms which manufacture for the Government as to what should be and what should not be exported.
§ Dr. ADDISONIs it not a fact that among those exports there are engines of a highly specialised kind which have been elaborated with the assistance of the Air Ministry?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is not at all a new problem. Every country 489 which manufactures aeroplanes and exports aeroplanes, as all manufacturing countries do, faces exactly the same problem, and I have no doubt they deal with it in exactly the same way; and I can give the House a complete assurance that British interests are not prejudiced, while at the same time we do secure a very fair share of the export trade, and that seems to be practical business.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that designs from this or any other Government Department ought to be used directly or indirectly to provide weapons of war for other countries; and does he not think it would be far better not to export bombing aeroplanes and so dispense with the need of gas masks in this country?
§ Mr. PALINGMay I ask whether engines which are specialised for the use of our Air Force are allowed to be exported?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe last thing in the world I should want to do would be to disclose exactly the precise regulations which are made, but for years past there has been a perfectly recognised understanding between the Defence Departments and the industries concerned as to what it is and what it is not desirable to use in the export trade.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLWould not the problem of rearmament be very much simplified if restrictions were placed upon the export of these machines?