HC Deb 07 December 1943 vol 395 c754
10. Commander Sir Archibald Southby

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether, to supplement the information supplied by him on 2nd November, 1943, he will now give figures of the amount of exports of ball-bearings to Germany from factories in Sweden in recent periods?

Mr. Foot

Exports of ball and roller bearings and parts thereof from Sweden to Germany from 1st January until 30th September, 1943, were 3,921 metric tons. This compares with a total of 5,564 metric tons during the whole of 1942.

Sir A. Southby

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that as we succeed in knocking out the factories in Germany by our aerial attack there does arise the possibility of either open or surreptitious supply of materials from Sweden to Germany?

Mr. Foot

Yes, Sir. We have constantly in mind the best way of linking up our economic policy in neutral countries with our bomber offensive on particular targets in Germany. As the hon. and gallant Member will remember, I dealt with this subject at some length in my answer on 2nd November.

Forward to