asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether compulsory arrest of Germans for medical examination in respect of V.D. still continues in the British zone of Germany; how many have been arrested during the past year compared with the previous year; and what percentage have been found to be suffering from this disease.

I have called for a report on the matter referred to in my hon. Friend's Question, and I will communicate with him as soon as possible.

I take it from that answer that we still have responsibility in that matter, and if the report shows that the present method has proved of little value, will that procedure be reconsidered?

I had better await the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will revise the arrangement in Germany under which British personnel are allowed petrol to cover 500 miles of recreational transport each month.

No, Sir. Five hundred miles a month is a maximum. I am making inquiries into the working of the scheme, which will, of course, be affected by the recent cut of 25 per cent. imposed on the Control Commission's petrol consumption.

Is it not because there is no other means of transport in Germany that the Control Commission has found it necessary to allocate petrol to people so that they may communicate with each other?

I have had strong representations made to me on this question of petrol consumption and communications, and I am looking into the whole matter.

Can my right hon. Friend tell me whether the whole of this petrol is used solely for business purposes or for pleasure as well?

Mainly for business purposes. I think it is for business purposes on the way out and for pleasure on the way home.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what accounts for the irregular and inconvenient shortage of petrol coupons in the British zone of Germany, and as some German pumps are unable to honour even those which are available, if he will cause an investigation to be made into the administration of petrol supplies generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the petrol supply for the British occupation authorities in Germany has partially broken down; and what steps are being taken to remedy this state of affairs.

There has been no breakdown in petrol supplies in Germany. Authority to issue petrol coupons to nonmilitary users, such as Press correspondents, commercial representatives and welfare organisations was transferred from B.A.O.R. to the Zonal Travel Directorate on 1st November. Coupons held then had to be exchanged for new ones. The demand for new coupons proved unexpectedly large, and a temporary shortage resulted in Berlin. Steps have been taken to remedy the shortage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the agreement concluded between the United Kingdom and the United States on the future financing of the bi-zonal area in Germany.

Yes, Sir. I am pleased to be able to state that agreement has now been reached and that the Agreement will be signed in Washington later this afternoon. The text is being prepared as a White Paper. I am arranging for advance copies to be placed in the Library of the House at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has taken note of the recent public claim of the United States Secretary of the Army that henceforward America would control the economic and financial policies of the Anglo-American zones of Germany; and whether he will represent to the United States Government that in any plans which may be decided on it is the view of His Majesty's Government that Britain should have an equal say with the United States.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part of the Question, I would prefer not to anticipate the statement which will be released tonight. I may, however, say that the negotiations are limited to questions of the financing of supplies and the operation and constitution of the Joint Export-Import Agency and the Joint Foreign Exchange Agency.