§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any attempts have been made by the Soviet Government during the past 12 months to purchase munitions or military equipment of any kind in this country; whether any such purchases have actually been made; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government in this matter?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI have no official information as to purchases of munitions or military equipment in this country except in so far as applications are made for licences to export such war material as can only be exported under licence. During the past 12 months the only such licences issued for exports to the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics were in respect of 40 tanks and 20 light armoured vehicles and the armament therefor. Applications for the issue of export licences for arms and ammunition destined for Soviet territory are considered on their merits in the same way as applications in respect of any other destination.