HC Deb 27 July 1937 vol 326 c2826
10. Mr. Mander

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action the Government have taken to exercise more careful supervision over the grant of export licences for arms, as referred to in paragraph 26 of the Statement relating to the Report of the Royal Commission on the Private Manufacture of and Trading in Arms, 1935–36; on what principles discretion is exercised; and in what cases during the last two years there have been refusals to grant licences?

Mr. Stanley

As regards the first two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 26 of the statement to which he refers, and to the paragraphs beginning with paragraph 19 of the memorandum published as Appendix I to the minutes of evidence taken before the Commission on 27th November, 1935. As regards the last part of the question, 13 applications for export licences for war material have been rejected since 1st July, 1935.

Mr. Mander

Would it not be possible to give the reasons for the rejections?

Mr. Stanley

No, Sir.