asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to prevent the purchase of military supplies from the three Services by private companies and their subsequent export to areas of international tension.

No, Sir. I do not consider this is necessary since such supplies are already subject to our export licensing procedures.

Is the Prime Minister aware that a number of people have in their possession, and I have also, copies of photostat documents of receipts for the export of 20,000 rifles to the Yemen last year, and that British business men, including Intour Limited of Bexleyheath, Kent, and John Dawson Ellis, have admitted that these rifles were exported to the Yemen last year? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the Government should do something about this?

Not unless I see much more evidence than the hon. Gentleman has given me. If he makes these sorts of accusations, he must support them by facts, and I want to see them before I answer the question.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it would be more appropriate if the Government dealt with the question of the export of rifles from other countries to Cyprus rather than to the Yemen?

The latter matter is not in our control except in so far as arms exported from here are concerned. All I can say is that our export licensing system makes certain that arms do not go out to other countries, the purpose of which we disapprove. I know of no evidence that these rifles have been exported to the Yemen.

I have in my possession a photostat copy of a receipt for payment for 2,500 Lee Enfield rifles, shipped by Sabena to Saudi Arabia, and photostat copies of contracts for 20,000 rifles shipped to the Yemen. These documents have been available to the right hon. Gentleman as well as to me. The people involved in this include Mr. John Dawson Ellis, who was also responsible for shipping 100 Valentine tanks to the Middle East in 1956, about which the Government did not know. Should not the Prime Minister start looking into this matter?

I know quite well that no rifles have been exported to the Yemen. I wish to see the evidence which the hon. Member has, but, on the present information which I have, it cannot possibly be true.

Will the Prime Minister treat this matter more seriously? It is a question not of export licences, but that any arms which have been supplied to the British forces should be disarmed by being destroyed rather than sold secondhand anywhere else in the world.

The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well concerning rifles that from the time of the First World War, Enfield rifles have been sold to Belgium and other countries—that is well known—but nothing has been exported from this country except a few rifles to Belgium, which did not go to the Middle East. That is what the hon. Gentleman is insinuating.

rose—

Order. If the hon. Member is rising to give notice, I will hear him, but not for another supplementary question.

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earlier possible opportunity.