asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what grounds a licence was granted for the making of improvements to the factory of the Gelsenberg Benzin Company, operating in the British zone of Germany, when this establishment is one earmarked for destruction.

The licence granted was of a temporary and limited character for the reactivation of that part of the plant necessary to process 15,000 tons of natural oil per annum.

Is it true that 17 million marks have actually been expended on this particular factory and that it is now going to be pulled down?

That is the sum alleged by the Germans, but it seems a fantastically large sum for the work done.