HC Deb 18 April 1946 vol 421 c2884
49. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the monthly yield from taxation levied upon the inhabitants of the British zone in Germany; and how much of the proceeds of this have so far been made available to reduce the cost to this country of civil administration in Germany.

Mr. J. Hynd

In February the yield from taxation in the British Zone of Germany was 241 million Reichsmarks; for March and April it is estimated at 385 and 3[...]7 million Reichsmarks respectively. All our Reichsmark expenditure in Germany is charged to the German budget; there remains our expenditure in sterling and other currencies which can only be recovered at present from such proceeds of German exports as are available.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Can the Minister say whether it is the policy of his Department to increase the German contribution to the cost of their own Government in order to reduce the present level of reparations in reverse?

Mr. Hynd

I am afraid I will have to have notice of that question which needs a little digesting; but the policy we are pursuing is to charge the whole of our Reichsmark expenditure to the German Government. Recently, as the figures I have quoted show, we have considerably increased the taxation for that purpose amongst others.