§ 25. Mr. Watkinsasked the President of the Board of Trade the number and value of British manufactured fighting aeroplanes that were exported in 1937 and the countries to which they were exported?
Mr. StanleyI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the number and value of aeroplanes of United Kingdom manufacture exported to individual countries during 1937. I am unable, from the particulars compiled for the purpose of the trade returns, to furnish the desired information in respect of fighting aeroplanes, as such.
§ Mr. WatkinsIs it not surprising that the Government have allowed these aeroplanes to go abroad when we are told day by day that they are wanted for our own defence?
§ Mr. LawsonIf this export has not been stopped, may I ask what is the good of negotiating with the engineers?
Mr. StanleyA number of these are civil aeroplanes which have no relation whatsoever to the armament programme. All the others are the subject of export licences granted by my Department after consultation with the Service Department concerned, who are satisfied that service interests are not interfered with.
§ Mr. AttleeIf permits are necessary how is it that the right hon. Gentleman cannot state the number of fighting aeroplanes as compared with civil aeroplanes?
Mr. StanleyI was asked also their value and I have given the whole list, compiled from Customs' returns, but the Customs' returns do not differentiate between fighting and other types of aircraft.
§ Mr. KellyIn view of the statement of the right hon. Gentleman that there are aeroplanes and aeroplanes, will he give us the number of fighting aeroplanes—bombers, and so forth—which are being exported from this country?
§ Following are the particular:
| Table showing the number and value of complete aeroplanes of United Kingdom manufacture exported from this country during 1937, distinguishing the countries to which consigned. | ||
| Countries to which consigned. | Complete Aeroplanes. | |
| Number. | £ | |
| Irish Free State | 4 | 20,309 |
| Channel Islands | — | — |
| Union of South Africa (excluding south-West Africa Territory) | 60 | 65,490 |
| Southern Rhodesia | 4 | 9,258 |
| Kenya | 7 | 17,862 |
| Anglo-Egyptian Sudan | 1966 | 1,744 |
| British India and Burma | 19 | 44,304 |
| Straits Settlements and Dependencies (including Labuan). | 6 | 11,074 |
| Federated Malay States | 3 | 2,731 |
| Hong Kong | 12 | 75,103 |
| Anstralia | 73 | 367,440 |
| Territory of Papua (including the Mandated Territory of New Guinea) | 1 | 525 |
| New Zealand | 32 | 33,929 |
| Canada | 14 | 44,720 |
| Bermuda | — | — |
| Other British Countries | 4 | 7,853 |
| Finland | 8 | 84,909 |
| Latvia | 15 | 106,239 |
| Lithuania | 5 | 24,403 |
| Sweden | 10 | 47,025 |
| Denmark (including Farce Island) | 3 | 6,100 |
| Poland (including Danzig) | 2 | 4,229 |
| Germany | 1 | 1,000 |
| Netherlands | 6 | 3,259 |
| Belgium | 25 | 148,355 |
| France | 31 | 86,299 |
| Switzerland | 6 | 5,979 |
| Portugal | 10 | 47,074 |
| Austria | 5 | 23,520 |
| Czechoslovakia | 1 | 7,232 |
| Yugoslavia | 14 | 101,740 |
| Greece | 7 | 25,290 |
| Rumania | 5 | 16,479 |
| Turkey | 11 | 99,476 |
| Egypt | 20 | 56,236 |
| Iraq | 27 | 105,299 |
| Iran | — | — |
| Afghanistan | 8 | 53,100 |
| Siam | — | — |
| China (exclusive of Hong Kong, Macao, Manchuria and leased territories) | 14 | 97,732 |
| Japan (including Formosa) | 1 | 1,484 |
| Brazil | 16 | 42,515 |
| Uruguay | 11 | 11,125 |
| Other foreign countries | 5 | 4,638 |
| Total | 507 | 1,913,099 |