§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Secretary of State for War why the War Office has refused Messrs. William Foster and Company, of Lincoln, permission to accept contracts for tanks offered by foreign countries, seeing that other manufacturers of ships and munitions of war are allowed to export war material?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe War Office is anxious to afford all reasonable and legitimate facilities to the trade for the manufacture of tanks for supply to foreign Governments, but they require to be consulted in the case of each order so as to ensure that it can be carried out without prejudice to the national interests. 305W Subject to this condition being complied with, Messrs. Foster and Company would not be prohibited by the War Office from accepting contracts for the supply of tanks to foreign Governments.