HL Deb 15 October 1946 vol 143 cc272-3
VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government, what steps they are taking to enable the repatriation to Germany of about 200,000 German civilian refugees now interned in Denmark, a very great many of whom are women and children.]

VISCOUNT ADDISON

My Lords, the question of the return to Germany of the 200,000 civilian refugees in Denmark is under discussion by the representatives of the Four Powers on the Control Council in Berlin, and it is impossible to say when a solution will be reached. The problem should not therefore be regarded as purely Anglo-Danish, but the authorities of the British zone have agreed to receive into the British zone those of the refugees who previously lived there, numbering 10,000.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

I am obliged to the noble Lord for that answer. I suppose he cannot say when the question will be settled by the Big Four?

VISCOUNT ADDISON

I am afraid I cannot say any more than I have said.