HC Deb 09 March 1925 vol 181 cc923-5
81. Mr. T. THOMSON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in cash ho has received from the sale of dyestuffs received from Germany on reparation account; the total amount credited to Germany against such sales; the total cost of distribution in this country by way of commission, etc., to the Government. agents; details of such commission and other expenses allowed; and to what account has the balance between the net income and the amount credited to Germany been put?

Sir B. CHADWICK

I have been asked to reply. The last completed accounts for Reparation Dyestuffs are those for the financial year 1923–24. Up to 31st March, 1924, the gross amount realised by the sale of dyestuffs was £1,383,569; the amount credited to Germany for deliveries to that date, including stock not then sold, was 21,068,139; the amount paid to agents for commission, freight and distributing charges was £215,961, of which £109,015 represented commission and £106,946 freight and other charges. The net proceeds are paid by the Board of Trade to the Treasury as Miscellaneous Revenue.

82. Sir F. WISE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount the Agent-General of reparation payments has received?

Mr. GUINNESS

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement of receipts and payments to 31st January, 1925, which was published by the Agent General for reparation payments on the 18th February. The total receipts amount to 394,581,255 gold marks, or about £19,729,000, of which nearly the whole represents the proceeds of the German External Loan, 1924.

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much we have received this year?

Mr. GUINNESS

Since the Dawes scheme came into operation, the Agent-General for reparation payments, up to 31st January, 1925, paid over on account of the British Empire about £4,250,000.

Sir F. WISE

Is that 22 per cent. of the total?

Mr. GUINNESS

Yes, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, there are all kinds of complications relating to priority.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Does that include the amount received by the British Customs under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act?

Mr. GUINNESS

The Reparation (Recovery) Act is the chief means at present of the payments. The only other considerable amount has been received in the way of marks and services to the Army.

Following is the statement promised:

Statement of Receipts and Payments to 31st January, 1925.
(On Cash Basis, reduced to Gold Mark equivalents.)
— Month of January, 1925. First Annuity Year Cumulative total of 31st January, 1925.
Gold Marks. Gold Marks.
A.—RECEIPTS.
1. Cash withdrawn from proceeds of German External Loan 1924. 104,087,937.33 385,191,515.29
2. Receipts from Belgium and Luxemburg 4,229,870.41 9,389,739.74
Total Receipts 108,317,807.74 394,581,255.03
B.—PAYMENTS
1. To or for the account of:—
Great Britain 19,359,465.94 85,110,639.58
France 47,275,636.30 161,434,030.53
Italy 8,958,938.31 32,482,033.27
Belgium 9,334,886.67 38,855,172.08
Japan 399,297.57 1,290,458.53
Serb-Croat-Slovene State 2,076,762.24 11,932,462.24
Portugal 724,894.84 2,220,347.08
Rumania 340,714.99 2,807,496.48
Greece 684,122.70 953,846.05
2. For Coal, transport, etc. to Belgium and Luxemburg which are to be reimbursed to the Agent General. 4,650,588.93 9,904,083.74
3. For expenses of:—
Reparation Commission 355,544.99 3,296,639.77
Rhineland High Commission 480,000 2,236,640
Military Commission of Control 1,333,333.33 6,000,000
Naval Commission of Control — 70,000
4. For Service of German External Loan 1924 7,300,504.19 21,833,003.60
5. On account of cost of Administration of Office for Reparation Payments. 293,912.61 935,535.49
6. Exchange differences less interest received 6,744.72 33,759.25
Total Payments 103,575,348.33 381,390,148.29
Balance of cash in Reichsbank, 31 January, 1925 … 13,185,106.74
394,581,255.03