7.
asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and particulars of exports from the United Kingdom to Japan for the 12 months ended the last convenient date?
As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the figures are for regular intervals during the year?
The hon. Member will be able to see from the answer.
Will the statement which the right hon. Gentleman proposes to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT contain all particulars of munitions exported from this country?
I have given particulars in response to previous questions.
Following is the answer:
Statement showing the total declared value of merchandise exported from the United Kingdom and consigned to Japan (including Formosa) during the 12 months ended March, 1939, distinguishing the principal groups of commodities so far as these particulars are readily available.
Description.
| Declared Value. |
| £000 | |
| Exports of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom— | |
| Non-ferrous metalliferous ores and scrap | 78 |
| Pottery, glass abrasives, etc. | 10 |
| Iron and steel and manufactures thereof | 190 |
| Non-ferrous metals and manufactures thereof | 90 |
| Cutlery, hardware, implements and instruments | 33 |
| Machinery | 704 |
| Woollen and worsted yarns and Manufactures | 21 |
| Chemicals, drugs, dyes and Colours | 93 |
| Vehicles (including locomotives, ships and aircraft) | 19 |
| Miscellaneous articles wholly or mainly manufactured | 69 |
| Other descriptions | 233 |
| Exports of imported merchandise | 379 |
| Total | 1,919 |
9.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that guns on the three Japanese planes brought down in Chungking on 3rd May were Lewis auto-guns, serial number A52016, made by the Birmingham Small Arms Company; and whether he will state the number of licences granted for the supply of such guns to Japan since January, 1937?
I am not aware of the source of the report to which the hon. Member refers but I am informed that the number he quotes is that of a gun supplied to Japan in 1933. As regards the latter part of the question, it would be contrary to the public interest to state the number of export licences which have been granted for a particular country for weapons of a particular description. I can say, however, that no licence for Lewis guns or machine guns destined for Japan has been issued since September, 1937.