HL Deb 09 March 1948 vol 154 c529

2. 37 p.m.

LORD FAIRFAX OF CAMERON

My Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether tanks, tank-carrying lorries and aircraft engines that are new or that have been sold as surplus stores to persons within the United Kingdom have, within the last six weeks, been sold or resold to foreign countries or to foreign communities; and if so, whether His Majesty's Government can give details of what was sold, to what countries or communities, and when.]

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (VISCOUNT ADDISON)

My Lords, on various dates between January 18 and February 28 of this year 125 aircraft engines, including about 35 from surplus stocks, were exported. Of these, 63 were exported to Dominion and Colonial territories, and 62 to foreign countries. Eighteen tanks were sold to Portugal during the same period, but there is no official evidence of any tank-carrying lorries, either new or from surplus stocks, having been sold to foreign countries or communities.

LORD FAIRFAX OF CAMERON

My Lords, while thanking the noble Viscount the Leader of the House for his reply, and while in no way wishing to embarrass His Majesty's Government, I would point out that it is fairly widely understood that aero engines and tanks have been sold to Russia. Will His Majesty's Government assure themselves that this is not the case?

VISCOUNT ADDISON

None of the 125 aero engines referred to was sold to Russia. I shall be glad to supply the noble Lord with a list of the countries to which they were sold.