§ 24. Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how far the German authorities have been authorised to institute a system of exit permits to prevent persons leaving Germany whose work is considered of importance in re-establishing the German economy; and whether he is satisfied that the powers exercised by the German authorities are not sufficient to prevent persons coming to this country whose presence here is a positive British interest.
§ Mr. J. HyndPermits to leave Germany are issued by the appropriate element of the Control Commission.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIn the event of His Majesty's Government deciding to make a voluntary appeal to German workers to come to this country in place of German prisoners of war who are repatriated, would this system of export permits be sufficiently drastic to prevent such a policy being carried out?
§ Mr. HyndI do not know that the present exit permit scheme visualises such a mass movement as would be envisaged in the supplementary question, and I should think it would be reviewed.
§ Mr. StokesWould the hon. Gentleman say whether the "appropriate element" means the authority responsible for the zone in which the individual lives, or whether it means that all these permits have to be subject to the quadripartite agreement?
§ Mr. HyndNo, I think the exit permit arrangement, whilst it is based on quadripartite agreement, is in the hands of the zone authorities.