HC Deb 15 March 1938 vol 333 cc183-4
12. Mr. Thurtle

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department takes, before granting licences for the export of aeroplanes and other armaments to foreign countries, to ascertain that the country to which such armaments are consigned is, in fact, the country for which they are intended?

Mr. Stanley

The general practice of His Majesty's Government is to issue licences for the export of war material only to Governments, or to accredited agents of Governments for delivery to them. If there are grounds for apprehending that the prospective purchasing Government may contemplate re-export to an undesirable destination, an export licence is withheld pending inquiries.