§ 77. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £29,500,000 paid by Germany in respect of the cost of the British Army of Occupation has been encashed by the Exchequer, and, including the above amount, what is the approximate sterling value of the German payments in cash and in kind as against the estimated cost of the occupation of £53,900,000; and whether such German reparation payments have injured British trade?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe £29,000,000 referred to has been paid into the Exchequer. Owing to variations in the rates of exchange between the dates at which expenditure on the British Army of Occupation has been incurred and those at which repayment has been made 2093 by Germany, it is not possible to answer the second part of the question by giving sterling figures. Moreover, all figures are at present subject to revision and dependent on decisions still to be taken by the Reparation Commission and Inter-Allied Agreements still to be finally settled. The gold mark figures are:—
The estimated cost of the British Army of Occupation up to 31st January, 1922, is 1,007,000,000 gold marks. Receipts of all kinds from Germany, whether finally allocated to the British Empire or not, less Spa Coal advances, amount to about 970,000,000 gold marks. It should be added that the gold mark equivalent of £2,639,500 has been paid out by the Treasury to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in settlement of that part of the British Empire's claim for Army of Occupation which was incurred in respect of Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand troops.
No reparation payments have been made by Germany to this country, and the last part of the question therefore does not arise.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWould my right hon. Friend tell me what is the exchange value of a gold mark—is it 20 or 16?
§ Sir R. HORNETwenty marks to the £.