asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether steps are being taken, in consultation with our Allies, to keep records of the shooting of hostages in German occupied countries?

My right hon. Friend will be aware that there are difficulties in present circumstances in obtaining complete and accurate records of this kind. But the victims are nationals of the occupied territories concerned and I have no doubt that our Allies are doing whatever is practicable in this respect.

Are not the complaints of the German Government and authorities about these assassinations rather misguided, because many of them might have been carried out by deserters from the German army, of which there are now quite a large number in hiding in different parts of Europe?

I agree with my hon. Friend that the German Government are misguided. I find no difficulty about that.