§ 48. Mr. Bramallasked the Minister of Defence if he will state the total value of equipment and the numbers of tanks, aircraft and field guns handed over by the British and Indian Forces to the Dutch Forces in the Netherlands East Indies.
§ The Minister of Defence (Mr. A. V. Alexander)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to my hon. Friend the Member for Deritend (Mr. Longden) on 18th February. It is not possible to analyse, as regards either value or quantity, the equipment taken over by Dutch Forces in the Netherlands East Indies, separately from the total issues made to the Dutch Government from all sources and for all purposes.
§ Mr. BramallMay we take it that no further arms will be provided for the Dutch Government with which to enable them to carry out a policy less enlightened than that which we are carrying out in India?
§ Mr. AlexanderI think that my hon. Friend had better look at the Question to which I am referring. If we make these supplies available to the Dutch Government, we cannot say what detailed use they shall make of them.