asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on whose responsibility four officials of the Control Commission for Germany, whose names have been given to him, who were charged on 17th March, 1947, with conspiracy, are still at work and exercising authority over subordinate officials who may have to give evidence against them; and whether he is satisfied that this is consistent with good discipline and efficient administration.

These officials have been suspended from duty following the preliminary hearing of their cases and committal for trial.

On what date were they suspended?

They were suspended immediately after the inquiry by the magistrate, and, within my recollection, they were suspended on 21st April

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this further, because I have evidence of eye-witnesses that they were working in the Control Office, and were drawing their salaries until a week ago?

I think that the hon. and learned Member would agree that it would be unfair to suspend them until they had been committed for trial. However, I am very willing to consider any evidence which the hon. and learned Member has.

Can it be explained to the House how eye-witnesses could know that these persons were drawing their salaries?

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a typical instance of the behaviour of some members of the Control Commission, who, by their behaviour, have lost the respect and confidence of the German people?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the skilled engineer who was put to sort letters in the Control Commission for Germany, in February last, for two to four weeks only is still engaged on the work and only sorting about eight letters daily; how long he is to continue this work; and whether steps will be taken to clear up the position, since this engineer was sent to this work by an officer against whom he may have to give evidence on a criminal charge made against the officer.

This officer was taken from his duties in the statistical and information rooms at Hanover last month, so that he could give evidence in Dusseldorf. He was released from attendance at court towards the end of March, and has since been on leave in -this country. I am assured that he was not sent to Hanover by an officer against whom he may have had to give evidence, but by the head of his branch.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say how much longer he intends to cost the country £1,000 a year in allowing this man to sort eight letters a day, when he is a skilled engineer?

I have already pointed out that he is not at present engaged on that task.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept it from me that he is not on leave in this country, but went back a few days ago to sort his eight letters a day?

I should be delighted to consider any evidence which the hon. and learned Gentleman has to offer, but I am surprised that he has immediate information about what this engineer is doing.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this man was sent there by the head of his branch, who is one of the officers against whom the man preferred charges?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this engineer is working a five-day week?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what firearms and other prohibited or restricted goods were found on the premises of Fritz Berg, Altena, when they were recently searched; with what offences he has since been charged and why he is still in possession of two motor cars and in control of his factories.

Friedrich Berg was found to be in possession of three sporting rifles, a Mauser automatic pistol, and quantities of ammunition. A large amount of rationed food, both Allied and German, and Allied spirits and cigarettes were also found. He has been charged with conspiracy to commit an offence in connection with purchase of cutlery; possession of excess quantities of rationed foods; unauthorised possession of property belonging to the Allied forces; unauthorised possession of fire-arms and ammunition; corruption of a person acting under authority of Allied forces; and two offences under the Military Government Notice of Control and Allocation of Consumer Goods dated 7th April, 1946. The two motorcars said to be in his possession are his private property. He is no longer in control of his factories, as he was removed from office on 3rd March, 1947, under the denazification regulations.

Is it really satisfactory that he and his wife should be driving about in these two motorcars, including periodically attending hearings before this trial?

The hon. and learned Member will note that my information is that he is in possession of motorcars, but I have caused most immediate inquiries to be made whether he is entitled to use them. If there is any reason why he should not use them, I will take care to see that he does not.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire particularly into the fact that every time he comes up for another hearing he drives away in one car and his wife in another?

Am I right in thinking that the possession of firearms is a capital offence in Germany, and can investigations be made into how a person charged with a capital offence was allowed bail?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what effect the new coal agreement will have upon German industrial output.

In reaching this agreement the needs of German industry were fully considered. The agreement is designed to secure an equitable distribution of increased production in Germany, and in those European countries dependent on German coal, and it ensures that increases in German coal production will be shared equitably between these internal and external needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, in the latest questionnaire for denazification purposes, Germans in the British zone are asked how they voted in 1932.

There has been no change in the questionnaire used for denazification; the question to which my hon. Friend refers is designed to discover whether the German concerned had Nazi sympathies at a time when it was still possible in Germany to indicate one's political preferences under conditions of relative freedom and secrecy.

Does my right hon. Friend think it is a good guarantee to the Germans that they should support a democratic system when they have no guarantee that in a few year's' time they may not be asked how they voted in 1946?

I agree, and I think that this matter wants looking into.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what effective check he has to prove whether the replies to this question are correct or not?

I have said that this matter needs looking into afresh.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the reason for refusing the entry of Germans recently from Poland to the British zone of Germany; and whether the Polish authorities have given any indication of the number of Germans they still wish to leave their western territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Polish Government has given notice to deport a further 400,000 Germans from Polish territory; and what is His Majesty's Government's policy in regard to accepting any of these deportees in the British zone of Germany.

The organised movement into the British zone of Germany of Germans to be expelled under the Potsdam Agreement from the territories now administered by Poland was suspended by the Control Commission on 23rd December last because of the severe weather. The question of resuming the operation has been deferred, as it was proposed to review the whole question of population transfers during the Moscow conference. Unfortunately, no agreement was reached.

The Polish authorities, at the Council of Foreign Ministers' Deputies in January, indicated that 550,000 Germans still remain in their western territories whom they wish removed to the western zones. They have recently asked that the movement to the British zone should be resumed but no official figures have been given. Our commitment is to receive million of these Germans into the British zone. This figure has probably been reached already, and before we can agree to accept any more it is necessary to assess the total number already received either by transfer or by infiltration so that we can calculate what balance, if any. remains.

Has my right hon. Friend made it plain to the Polish Government that further expulsions from their zone into our zone will make economic conditions there more and more difficult?

Yes, Sir, but it is not only a question of numbers, but who should be expelled. If we are to have merely refugees and unemployable people, and no corresponding productive people, the situation will become very difficult.

Can my right hon. Friend say what proportion of those expelled have been men or employable women?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for how long he expects it will be necessary to maintain the reduction of the bread ration from 5 lb. to 3 lb. weekly in the British zone of Germany; and whether the hardship thus inflicted can be offset by stepping up supplies of other food. stuffs.

The reduction which was adopted on the recommendation of the German Executive Committee as a prudent measure during a period of low stocks, and which applies to both the British and the United States zones, has at present been authorised only for the first week of the ration period. It is hoped that the full issue will be made up later in May. In the past potatoes have been used when necessary to supplement shortages of grain, but these are also in short supply.

While there are these shortages, will my right hon. Friend take all steps to make clear to the German people the reason for them?

That is being done. They are fully alive to the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether ha is aware that supplies of milk to civilians in the British zone are almost nil; and that meat, fats and potatoes are in such short supply that the normal ration cannot be honoured; and if he will make a statement.

Milk has been in short supply in the British zone but it has been possible to meet the needs of priority consumers with a fair degree of success. The position should improve with the start of the new grazing season. Difficulties in providing full rations of meat, fats and potatoes have been largely due to the failure of the local German authorities to collect and distribute these foodstuffs equitably throughout the British and American zones. The matter is under consideration in conjunction with the American authorities.