§ 1. Mr. Donnerasked the Minister of Supply when the decision to sell the Rolls Royce Nene jet engine to the U.S.S.R. was taken; how many such engines have been sold to the U.S.S.R. and, separately, to Czechoslovakia or any other country under Soviet influence; at what price they were sold; and whether it is intended to make any further deliveries to these countries.
§ Mr. PiratinOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker, I wish to ask your guidance with regard to the expression
to Czechoslovakia or any other country under Soviet influence,which is an imputation that that country is under Soviet influence. In view of the fact that we are constantly told by the Clerk at the Table that any statement contained in a Question must be a statement of fact, is the expression used in this Question in Order?
§ Mr. SpeakerI should have thought it was a statement of fact, and is, therefore, in Order.
§ Major Guy LloydFurther to that point of Order. Would it not have been much more accurate had the words "dominance and domination" been used instead of "influence"?
§ Mr. PiratinThe next time I wish to put down a Question about Greece, a number of which have been rejected by the Clerk at the Table—will it be in Order if I use the expression: "Greece under the domination of Britain and America"?
§ Mr. SpeakerCertainly not, because that is not a face.
§ Mr. PiratinFurther to that point of Order——
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is not a point of Order but merely a political argument, which I think ought to stop.
§ Mr. PiratinWith great respect, Sir——
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a point of Order and I will not have it pursued.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. G. R. Strauss)Messrs. Rolls Royce were given permission in September, 1946, to sell 10 Nene engines to Russia and in March, 1947, to sell a further 15. None has been sold to Czechoslovakia or to any other country which could be described as under Soviet influence. No further sales are contemplated. The selling price of the engines was fixed under a commercial contract.
§ Mr. DonnerBut does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the sale of this particular engine to Russia saved that country years of research; and how does he justify that sale?
§ Mr. StraussAs the hon. Member is probably aware, none of these engines was on the secret list.
§ Sir Waldron SmithersIn view of the rising tide of Communism, will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that no more munitions of war of any kind will be sold, but all will be kept for defence purposes? Will he give that undertaking?
§ Mr. StraussThat is a very broad question. As I said in reply to the Question put down, no further sales of this engine are contemplated.
§ Sir W. SmithersI asked about all munitions of war.
§ Mr. Edgar GranvilleDid I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that these engines were not on the secret list at the time of the sale?
§ Mr. StraussYes, Sir.
§ 7. Commander Nobleasked the Minister of Supply how many British jet engines have been supplied to the U.S.S.R.; and in which years.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussFifty-five jet engines were supplied to the U.S.S.R. during 1947.
§ Commander NobleCan the Minister say, in view of his statement that no further sales are contemplated the reason for this change of policy?
§ Mr. StraussOne of the reasons is that we have not completed our inquiries.
§ Mr. BlackburnWill my right hon. Friend make it quite plain that, so long as the present cold war continues, we have no intention whatsoever of supplying any kind of warlike materials either to the Soviet Union or to any of her satellites?
§ Mr. SpeakerThis Question asks how many engines have been supplied, not about the cold war.