asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without prejudice to subsequent definitions of the scope of the scheme to be submitted for dealing with assets and claims under the Czechoslovakia (Restrictions on Banking Accounts, etc.) Act, he will state whether the issuing bankers or trustees for the Czecho-Slovakia 8 per cent. Sterling Loan and the Austrian Government 4½ per cent. Guaranteed Conversion Loan have lodged claims for registration on behalf of British bondholders generally; and whether it is necessary for individual bondholders, in order that their claims may be registered, either to have given notice individually before 17th June or by permission of the Treasury there after?

:The bank which issued the sterling 8 percent. bonds of the Czechoslovak Government Loan asked His Majesty's Government to take note of the rights of the bondholders, but it is desirable that bondholders should lodge their claims individually as requested in the notice published on 3rd April last. The attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn to the contingent claims of the Trustees of the Austrian Government Guaranteed Conversion Loan, 1934–59, under the guarantees given by the former Czecho-Slovak Government. The service of this loan, however, is being met without any call upon the guarantor Governments. There do not appear to be any grounds for individual holders of bonds of this loan to lodge claims. In answering the specific questions put to me by my hon. Friend, I do so, as he himself suggests, without prejudice to subsequent definitions of the scope of the scheme to be submitted.

I apologise to my right hon. Friend if I ask a question which he has already answered, but I had great difficulty in hearing the beginning of his reply. Did he say that the trustees representing the bondholders in these two issues had lodged claims on behalf of the bondholders?

What I said as regards the first issue was that the bank had asked His Majesty's Government to take note of the right of the bondholders, but that it was desirable for bondholders individually to lodge their claims according to the announcement already made.

Does that apply to both issues?

As regards the second issue, I said that there seemed to be no reason for anxiety. The guarantor Governments are not being called upon and the service of the issue is being duly made.

In view of the uncertainty with regard to this matter, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the desirability of producing a scheme as soon as possible after the Recess?

Yes, Sir, I hope it will be as soon as possible.

May I ask whether there is any truth in the rumours going round that there are individuals in this country who are more concerned about the money lost in Czecho-Slovakia than they arc-about the Czecho-Slovak people losing their liberty?