HC Deb 17 November 1919 vol 121 cc591-2
12 and 13. Mr. MANVILLE

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the total amount of property held by the Public Trustee in this country belonging to German, Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish subjects, respectively; the total amount of the debts due by British subjects to German, Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish subjects, respectively;

(2) The total amount of British property held by Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey, respectively, and the total amount of the debts due to British subjects by German, Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish subjects, respectively?

Sir A. GEDDES

I will answer these questions together. As the answer involves a statistical table, I will, with the permission of the House, have a statement circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the answer referred to:

Statements obtained from the Public Trustee giving the information asked as far as it is available:
Total amount of property held by and recorded with the custodian in this country, belonging to persons resident in Debts due by persons in the United Kingdom to persons resident in
£ £
Germany 98.766.018 11,884.803
Austria and Hungary 17.693.807 2.194,358
Bulgaria 780.863 156.391
Turkey 4,258,504 897,049
Total amount of property belonging to persons to resident in the United Kingdom and situated in Debts due to persons in; the United Kingdom by persons resident in
£ £
Germany 42.692,626 54.906,238
Austria and Hungary 17.554,678 15.115,163
Bulgaria 377,593 1,205,481
Turkey 4,189,283 4,781,516
The figures relating to property situated in Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey do not include the proceeds of sale of property liquidated.

Mr. A. M. SAMUEL

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to match British creditors and German debtors, and vice versa, so far as these German-English and English-German debts are concerned?

Sir A. GEDDES

A clearing house has been established in Germany in connection with this matter.