asked the Minister of National Insurance when she expects that the negotiations now in progress with the Federal German Republic with the object of securing reciprocal national insurance arrangements with that country will be completed.

Agreement has already been reached on general principles and a legal instrument is being drafted. A number of detailed points are outstanding which it is intended to discuss at a further meeting this summer. Thereafter, I hope that an agreement can be concluded.

Does the right hon. Lady realise that the present arrangements are working to the serious detriment of relatives of British personnel serving in Germany who visit their relations in the Forces? Will she do her utmost to expedite this matter before the summer to enable them to visit their relatives?

I am doing everything that I can. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that when one has bilateral discussions a lot depends upon the other side. If he will give me the details of any case, I will try to do what I can to help him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish a summary of the evidence upon which it was decided to withdraw Lord Russell of Liverpool from his appointment in Germany.

As my right hon. Friend stated in reply to the hon. Member for Brightside (Mr. R. Winterbottom) on 17th April, Lord Russell is to be withdrawn from Germany because it was felt that in consequence of the publicity already given to the case he may find himself, however much he may desire to avoid it, becoming a focus of political feeling in Germany, and it was considered wise to take account of this possibility. Lord Russell is not being withdrawn because of the original traffic incident, in regard to which the Lord Chancellor takes the view that it would be unfair to blame him.

There is no evidence to publish with regard to the withdrawal of Lord Russell because the whole matter was dealt with by the Lord Chancellor who subsequently had discussions with my right hon. Friend. I may add that the High Commissioner and Lord Russell have agreed between themselves that the incident should be regarded as closed and I would commend this conclusion to the hon. and learned Member as eminently sensible.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that there is grave apprehension among other British officials in Germany that their task will be made much harder if they do not have behind them the backing of the British Government? Does he realise that we do not get the respect and co-operation of the German people by showing weakness?

Is not my hon. Friend aware that incidents of this kind may give rise, rightly or wrongly, through misapprehension, to a feeling that British representatives are not behaving properly in the occupied territories—I have particularly in mind Austria—that this can only be removed by such direct action as has been taken in this case, and that this will receive the approval of the more responsible members of the occupation authorities?

I do not want to add to the trouble which has been caused by this incident, but I repudiate any suggestion that this is a case of the Government not standing by officials. I said in my answer that the Lord Chancellor took the view that it would be unfair to blame Lord Russell for the incident; it was not the incident but the publicity and the inevitable results of the publicity which had to be taken into account.