asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make a statement as to the use of assets of the former Baltic States now held by the Custodian for the satisfaction of claims of British creditors of these States.

The matter is still under consideration, and at the present time I have nothing to add to the statement made on 12th April, 1948, by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary.

Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that he will be able to come to a decision on this matter before very long?

I am always hopeful, but I do not gamble on probabilities.