The hazards faced by the Royal Navy and by our merchant ships neverthless continued, and the fortitude and endurance of all concerned is a matter for high praise and gratitude. After 1st April, 1944, in consequence of our growing mastery over the enemy, losses were fortunately negligible. In the period covered by the earlier statement incessant attacks by enemy submarines, warships and aircraft, especially on the route followed by the Northern Convoys, took toll of shipments to the extent of some 15 per cent. The figures given relate to what was despatched. out of a credit from His Majesty's Government. of the value in gold or dollars and the remaining 6o per cent. Civil supplies have been provided under the terms of the Civil Supplies Agreement, whereby the Soviet Government paid 40 per cent. The shipment of military supplies virtually came to an end with the termination of hostilities, and the terms of the Military Supplies Agreement, under which military supplies had been provided during wartime on a Lend-Lease basis, ceased to apply on 8th November, 1945, six months after the termination of hostilities in Europe. The lists have therefore been compiled to include all shipments of supplies provided under wartime commitments up to the end of the quarter just concluded. incomplete in that a proportion of supplies, military and civil, which we contracted to send under the wartime arrangements continued to come forward for shipment after the 8th May. To do so would moreover render the picture of our war It has not proved practicable to relate the lists of supplies to the period ended the 8th May, 1945. Member for Woodford's reply to a question in the House on 5th June, 1945. These ships were the subject of a special arrangement, as stated in the right hon. The cost of the battleship, destroyers and submarines listed below has not been included in the figure of £308 million. They also take no account of the very considerable aid provided by the Royal Navy in the form of convoy escorts. The value of raw materials, foodstuffs, machinery, industrial plant, medical supplies and hospital equipment is approximately £120 million. The value of munitions sent during this period is approximately £308 million. The following list shows the approximate quantities of the main items of military and civil supplies despatched in aid to the U.S.S.R. Member is now asking me to give a short account of the late war. We are very glad to have been able to give this assistance to our Soviet Allies and to have helped to equip and sustain them in their bitter struggle against the common enemy. We have also sent about £120 million of raw materials, foodstuffs, machinery, industrial plant, medical supplies and hospital equipment. The total value of military supplies despatched amounts to approximately £308 million. in exchange for the supply of British aircraft to United States Forces in the European Theatre. As previously explained on the 10th May, 1944, the aircraft from the United States of America were sent on United States Lend Lease to the Soviet Union as part of the British commitment to the U.S.S.R. We supplied 7,411 aircraft, including 3,129 aircraft sent from the United States of America. In the period from 1st October, 1941, to 31st March, 1946, we supplied to the Soviet Union 5,218 tanks, of which 1,388 were from Canada. The House may like to have the following summary of this. I am circulating a full statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
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