HC Deb 20 February 1946 vol 419 cc1131-2
13. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether negotiations have been opened with the Czechoslovak Government for compensation for British interests in nationalised industry in that country; and whether he has any report to make thereon.

Mr. Bevin

In reply to the representations made by His Majesty's Ambassador at Prague the Czechoslovak Government have asked to be given a complete list of the Czechoslovak concerns in which British subjects hold interests, giving the amount of the holdings, the dates of acquisition, the price paid and the present value. The Czechoslovak Government have stated that as soon as the amount of compensation is known, and on the presupposition of full reciprocity, they will be ready to enter into negotiations about

Pay and allowances of clerks and typists in the British Embassy in Paris and at British Consulates n France in August, 1939, and at 1st December, 1945, were as follows:
August, 1939. 1st December, 1945.
Embassy, Paris
Clerks … … … Salary Men£85-£350 per annum. August, 1939, salary scales increased by£78p.a. (men) and£65 (women)
Salary Women£85-£280 per annum. Food and accommodation provided in Government hostels.
Allowances ranging from£100 to£130 per annum. Allowance£90 per annum (married men),£25(others).
Typists … … Salary£ 2 5s.-£ 3 12s. a week. Salary£3 9s.-£4 19s. a week. Food and accommodation provided.
Allowance from£2 9s. 3d.-£2 12s. 9d. a week. Allowance£25 a year.
Consulates in France.
Clerks (sterling paid) £250-£450 Per annum Salary£183-£590 per annum.
(a) Food and accommodation provided and allowance of£90 per annum (married men),£25 (others) or
(b) Allowance ranging from £230-£675 per annum.
Clerks (currency paid) Fcs. 16,800-Fcs. 31,800 per annum. Fcs. 48,000 to Fcs. 120,600 per annum
Typists … … Fcs. 15,600-Fcs. 27,000 per annum. (Sterling Paid)£ 198-£233 per annum. Food and accommodation provided and allowance of£25 per annum.
(Currency paid) Fcs. 36,000 to Fcs. 60,000 per annum.

the way in which compensation should be paid.

Mr. Davies

May I ask my right hon. Friend for an assurance that, when these negotiations are entered into, he will not press Czechoslovakia to pay compensation immediately, but will enable her time in which to be able to obtain the currency in which the right hon. Gentleman wants the payments to be made?

Mr. Bevin

The assurance that I will give my hon. Friend is that I will not treat Czechoslovakia any worse than any other country with which we are in negotiation.