asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total cost to the taxpayer of the 223 Control Commission for Germany employees who were engaged, but did not take up their posts in Germany.

The gross cost of these appointments, terminated as a result of reductions in the establishment of the Commission, was £8,702.

Can the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster say who is responsible for this waste of the taxpayers' money, and whether disciplinary action will be taken against those responsible? Does he not realise that if someone got the sack for these misdemeanours, these things would not happen so often?

I do not think it is correct to say that this is a result of misdemeanours. It has been a considerable task to set up the vast organisation necessary at the beginning of the occupation of Germany. It had to be done rapidly and involved many thousands of people being recruited at short notice. There were a number of factors which intervened, including the slower run-out of military Forces, the difficulty of finding accommodation suitable for the new personnel, and, subsequently, the very heavy cuts which were made in the establishment.

Is not this an example of the result of recruitment of officials by bulk purchase?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the terms of a recent questionnaire submitted to all members of the Special Police Corps of the Control Commission for Germany indicate an intention of the authorities to reduce the establishment of that corps; and if he will give an undertaking that no engagements will be terminated so as to prejudice the pension rights of any police officer in respect of former police employment in this country or in respect of pension rights at the end of the term which he originally contracted to serve in the corps when appointed.

The answer to both parts of this Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will now make a statement about the nationalisation of heavy industry in the British zone of Germany.

I regret that I am not in a position to make a statement at the present time.

Does my hon. Friend realise that there is a very considerable uncomfortable feeling in this House and elsewhere that this policy, which was announced six months ago by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, has been shelved owing to external pressure on this country?

I do not know whether it is correct to talk in terms of external pressure. Certain complications have arisen since the last statements which were made in connection with this matter, which have delayed it, but have not in any way held up the proposals which are being examined at the moment.

Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance, in view of the increasing ties between our zone and the American zone, that he will ensure the closest harmony between the Americans and ourselves in this and all other matters?

This is a matter which refers only to the British zone and does not affect the Americans or American administration.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us the assurance that 'it is the intention of the Government to proceed with this nationalisation?

Yes, Sir. That assurance has already been given. I would like to make it clear that the considerations which are involved at present are technical considerations not affecting policy.

Has the hon. Gentleman yet found out on what principle, either of international law or of democracy, there can be any right thus to nationalise industries in military occupied territory?

I do not know that the question of international law comes into this. The Government of Germany at the moment is not a German Government. The Government is in the hands of the occupying Forces and the Commander-in-Chief is the authority in his own zone. It is necessary that he should organise affairs, economic and otherwise, in that zone as efficiently as possible.

Is it a fact that the Russians have put a stop to nationalisation in their own zone because they want reparations paid?

rose—

Could I have an answer?

The Question relates only to the nationalisation of industry in the British zone.

Will my hon. Friend make a statement which will give an indication of the difficulties which have been met? So far, several questions have been asked and no statement at all has been made.

Will the Minister bear in mind that all the established political parties in Germany thoroughly approve the idea of nationalisation of heavy industries in the Ruhr?

So far as statements have been made by the political parties, I think the suggestion in the last supplementary question is substantially correct. In regard to the other supplementary question, I am afraid I cannot say more than I have said, that certain problems are being examined. In reply to the preceding question, the answer is that it is a matter for the Russian zone, and I cannot answer for them.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the amounts of the private fortunes, seized by the Allies, of Himmler, Goebbels, Hess, Von Papen, Schacht, Schmidt and each of the Nazi criminals executed under the Nuremburg verdicts, respectively; and to what purpose they have been devoted.

The amounts seized in the British zone of Germany are as follow:

• Ribbentrop, Rm. 690,000.
• Von Papen, Rm. 721,000.
• Rosenberg, Rm. 657,000.
• Keitel, Rm. 1,045,000.
• Doenitz, Rm. 153,000.
• Goering, Rm. 4,000,000.

British inquiries have so far failed to trace any assets outside Germany which can be established as the personal property of any of the Nazis in question. Full details of what additional amounts have been discovered by the Allied Powers in the other zones of Germany or outside Germany are not yet available. The amounts seized in the British zone are being held under control, pending quadripartite decision as to their disposal.

Can the Minister tell us whether the sums that have been seized from these Nazi criminals are being devoted to relieving the plight of the German people, and thus relieving the British taxpayer?

No, Sir. The answer I have given is that the disposal of these assets is a matter for quadripartite agreement, and no agreement has yet been reached.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what purpose Goering's bank balances and securities, to the nominal value of 4,000,000 Reichmarks, seized inside the British zone, have been devoted.

The amounts are being held under control pending quadripartite decision as to their final disposal.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if any planned scheme exists for the requisitioning of German homes for English families; what becomes of the evacuated families; and whether they are allowed to keep their furniture and the gardens attached to their homes.

Normally requisitioning takes place only after consultation with the German housing authorities, who are responsible for providing suitable alternative accommodation for displaced Germans.. As for the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 19th March to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).

While I did not hear the Minister's reply, I would like to ask him to bear in mind that the apparently indiscriminate requisitioning of houses in Germany has done almost more than anything else to lower British prestige and justice in the eyes of the Germans.

There is no indiscriminate requisitioning On the contrary, the difficulties in accommodating our own people are very much wrapped up in this question, and the fullest possible consideration is given to German accommodation.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under what regulations letters from the British zone of Germany addressed to Members of this House are censored; and if he will issue instructions forbidding this practice.

The regulations in question are laid down by quadripartite agreement and are applicable to the private correspondence of Germans in all four zones of occupation. It would clearly lead to difficulties if I introduced exceptions in the British zone.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will arrange for parcels of food sent to Germany for distribution among displaced persons by the British Red Cross to be earmarked for a particular nationality at the request of the sender.

As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 2nd April, distribution of these food parcels is a matter for the British Red Cross who allocate them to those whose need is greatest. I know of no grounds which would justify my seeking to influence these arrangements.

Does not the Chancellor think that if people in this country want to give part of their rations, for example, to people displaced from the Baltic countries, some means ought to be found of allowing them to do so?

; As I say, the arrangements are a matter for the Red Cross authorities, and, while I would not like to make any official comment on these arrangements, I think it should be regarded as equitable that the supplies should go to the parts where the need is greatest. In so far as the Baltic displaced persons are in need, I think their needs are provided for.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to ensure that Polish recalcitrants sent to Germany shall have an opportunity to earn an honest living and that they do not resort to crime or join any Fascist or semi-Fascist organisations there; what will be done to authorise their passage to other zones or to prevent unauthorised passage; and whether he has the assent of the authorities in the other zones to any arrangements he is making.

On arrival in the British zone of Germany, these Poles will be demobilised and required to register at German labour offices, which may direct them to employment. They will then be subject to the same regulations regarding employment and travel, and liable to the same penalties for criminal or subversive activities, as the ordinary German population. Demobilisation of these Poles is taking place in the British zone only, and the authorities in the other zones haw not been consulted.

Does not the Minister recognise that there are special dangers in connection with people who will not live in Poland, in putting them in a country where they cannot even speak the language, with no particular ties, where they are very likely to get into bad company or to get into neighbouring zones? Will he take special precautions?

Yes, we are acutely aware of the difficulties arising from these situations and from these foreign elements in the German population. Therefore, they come under the restrictions to which I have referred, and which I can assure my hon. and learned Friend are very rigid.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what category of Poles is constituted by the term "recalcitrants"?

I am not responsible for the term which is used in the Question, but I gathered that it referred to those Poles in this country who are not prepared to join the Polish Resettlement Corps, nor to accept repatriation.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I seek your advice and ask whether it is in Order to put down a Question in which an adjective of a hostile and unflattering description such as this is used in connection with people who are merely doing what they have been publicly told they can do, and that is to opt not to return to Poland? It does appear to be a grave misuse of the opportunities of Debate and Question in this House to put down a Question using such a word.

I do not know how the Oxford Dictionary would describe the word "recalcitrant." I do not think it is a particularly offensive word. It passed the Table and, therefore, I think I am satisfied that it is in Order.

Further to that point of Order. Is it in Order to insinuate, as is insinuated here, that these men might wish to join a Fascist or a semi-Fascist organisation, in view of the fact that they are members of a country which was an Ally of ours from the first days of the war to the last?

The hon. Member who puts down the Question is entirely responsible for what is in it.

Has the hon. Member any ground whatever to suppose that any of our gallant Allies would resort to crime, as suggested in this very disgraceful manner?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in HANSARD, in tabular form, the results of the latest screening of German prisoners at Radwinter Youth Camp, showing the numbers of prisoners in the various categories from A to C+ before and after this screening.

Yes, Sir. I am circulating a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would my hon. Friend say whether that table will show that satisfactory progress is being made in this very important experiment?

I think that when my hon. Friend reads the figures in the table he will be satisfied that considerable progress has been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has become of all the art treasures, tapestries and other valuables looted by the Nazis and found by the Allies in Karinhall, Goering's country mansion in the Schorfheide; whether they have been sold; and to what purpose the proceeds have been devoted.

No information has been received regarding the disposal of art treasures found in Karinhall, which is in the Soviet zone. A number of art treasures which had been removed by Goering from Karinhall to South Germany were recovered. These have not been sold, but are being restored under the agreed restitution procedure to the Governments of those countries from which they were removed.

Will the Chancellor of the Duchy say whether he has made any approaches to our Allies to find out whether they have seized this property, and what they have done with it?

As Karinhall is in the Soviet zone I do not think it is for us to suggest that treasures might be going to particular parts. It is for our Allies to announce.

With regard to goods recovered in the Southern district mentioned by the Minister, will he see that they are not only restored to the Governments concerned, but to the original owners, whether museums or private owners?

I do not know whether I can go so far as to dictate to the Governments concerned, but I will certainly look at the point.

Has any request been received from our Soviet Ally for the services of those British nationals who were entertained at Karinhall before the war, in order to identify the art treasures concerned?