asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to bring any proceedings against Erich Koch, former Gauleiter of the Ukraine, recently arrested in the British zone of Germany.

The question of the action to be taken against Erich Koch is under consideration.

May we take it that the fact that he has been able to keep his identity concealed for this long time will not prejudice the need for him to be brought to justice in view of the incredible atrocities for which he was responsible?

I have not had time to go through all the papers since my return, but I have the matter under consideration and I must leave it at that at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many factories have been dismantled in the British zone of Germany during the last three months; and how many remain to be dismantled.

During the three months ending 31st May, dismantling was in progress at 204 plants in the British zone, of which 12 were completed during the period. On 31st May there were 30 plants due to be dismantled at which dismantling had not begun, but work at seven of these had started by 15th June.

While I, of course, in common with I think almost everybody else, do not agree with this policy, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind how important it is to let the German people know why he is pursuing this policy in consultation with his colleagues, because at the moment they are not properly informed of the reasons for our policy?

That is not correct; they are told; the agreements made between the Allies have been circulated, and every bit of information in connection with them has been explained to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will order a cessation of the dismantling of the Fischer-Tropsch synthetic petroleum plants in the Ruhr, in view of the reasoned case made against it by representatives of the German people.

No, Sir. I do not accept the implication in the second part of the Question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the application of his dismantling policy in this particular case is very difficult to understand, even in the case of those who cannot be accused of tenderness towards the German State?

Well, this has been carefully analysed and agreed to. It is a long story. This particular plant is in the prohibited and limited industries category, and it is being dismantled accordingly. After all, I would appeal to hon. Members sometimes to have a corner in their hearts for the victims of Germany.

Can my right hon. Friend assure us that the Germans will not, by their well-known technique of mass propaganda and blackmail, force us into the position of going back on these international agreements?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the motor boat "Rose of York," which belonged to Herr Wilhelm Westrup, having been requisitioned by the Control Commission authorities in Germany has recently been handed back to him in a dilapidated condition with all the fittings that could be removed gone the motor disabled, the propeller missing and the hull damaged; and what steps will now be taken to put the boat in order.

I am looking into the matter and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much has been spent on rebuilding the works of the Benzin Company at Gelsenberg, now to be pulled down; and what was the total amount for which a licence was issued by the Military Government.

The German management of the firm alleges that 17 million Deutsche marks have been spent between September, 1948, and March, 1949. The licence which was issued by the German Land Government of North Rhine Westphalia on the authority of Military Government was not a licence for expenditure but for the re-activation on a temporary basis of that part of the plant which was necessary for the hydrogenation of 15 thousand tons of natural oil residues per annum.

That being so, may I ask whether the people in the Military Government who approved this scheme were aware of the fact that they were going to insist on dismantling a few months later? That is what is so puzzling.

The whole thing was arranged with the Germans on a temporary basis, and they quite understand.

Will the Foreign Secretary explain in what way this is going to help the victims of the Nazis?

My hon. Friend knows very well the full story of the dismantling programme. This country has tried to keep the programme to a minimum consistent with security, and the question of security is a very important thing for this country and others in the future. We do not want to make the mistake we made after the 1914–18 war.

While I agree entirely with what my right hon. Friend has said, will he bear in mind that these plants may become of very great importance for peace-time purposes in view of the trend of world petroleum supplies, and in view of the wide range of chemical products of which they are the starting point?

That is not the only sphere in which they can be used, namely, to contribute to total world supplies. They become a danger when they are held in a country in which security is not yet finally and definitely established.

When Germany is being totally demilitarised and not permitted to have any Air Force, can four synthetic factories have any effect on world security?

We went right through the whole of that problem between the two wars, and so long as I am in office I am going to advise this House to take all the necessary precautions.