Rehabilitation (Hansard, 24 October 1945)

§ 52. Sir T. Moore
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the House any information in regard to the progress of rehabilitation in Austria.

§ 53. Mr. Anthony Nutting
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps are being taken by the Allied Powers concerned for the rebuilding of Austria's economic position.

§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. John Hynd)
The rebuilding of Austrian economy must start with the provision of the basic essentials, food, fuel and transport. Unfortunately food, fuel and transport shortages form a vicious circle which frankly it will be difficult to break. Our authorities in Austria and those of our Allies, assisted by Doctor Renner's Government, whose authority now extends to the whole of Austria, are making the most strenuous efforts to remedy shortages. But the difficulties which confront them, particularly as regards food, remain formidable and reach far beyond the confines of Austria. In other fields good progress is being made towards rehabilitation, with the re-establishment of sound legal and educational systems, the organisation of hospital services and the formation of a cadre of a new Civil Service and of a reliable police force.

§ Mr. Nutting
In order to make a reality of the Moscow Declaration on the future of Austrian independence, and to make that independence economic as well as political, will the hon. Gentleman urge the Russian Government to stop creating con- 2008 ditions of inflation in Austria, and to stop stripping the country bare of plant and machinery, and so contribute themselves to the recovery of Austrian economy?

§ Mr. Hynd
The question of possible inflation in Austria and the other question raised by the hon. Member should be put on the Order Paper, addressed to the Foreign Secretary.

§ Sir T. Moore
I cannot accept that. I put my Question to the Foreign Secretary and it was transferred, without my agreement, to the hon. Gentleman who has just replied.

§ Mr. Hynd
The terms of the Question by the hon. and gallant Member which appeared on the Order Paper did not raise the questions that have been raised in the supplementary question. Those are matters that are being discussed on the higher level, and therefore, should appropriately be put to the Foreign Secretary.

§ Sir T. Moore
That really means nothing. I put my Question to the Foreign Secretary, and the Foreign Office transferred it without my agreement to the hon. Gentleman who has just replied. It is therefore no use for him to "pass the buck" back and say that I should put down the Question to the Foreign Secretary. I want to know, in view of this specific undertaking which has been referred to, and which was given by the late Prime Minister after the Moscow Conference, whether the Government think that the present system of zoning in Austria is likely to lead to the late Prime Minister's undertaking being implemented?

§ Mr. Hynd
The hon. and gallant Member has now raised the whole issue. The question of the zoning arrangements and the question of the quadripartite machinery are, obviously, not matters of internal administration within our zone, and therefore matters which, if the hon. and gallant Member desires to challenge the policy, should be submitted to the Foreign Secretary.

§ Mr. Nutting
If the Chancellor of the Duchy cannot give an answer, is the Foreign Secretary in a position to answer my Question now? Otherwise, I will put a question down.