HC Deb 27 October 1947 vol 443 cc483-5
6. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the continued dismantling of works carrying out locomotive repairs in the British zone is being allowed, in view of the insufficient repairing capacity which is now available.

Mr. Mayhew

No works carrying out locomotive repairs in the British zone are being dismantled, except for two category I war plants which have done a few such repairs. There is more than sufficient capacity available to take over their work.

Mr. Stokes

Is my hon. Friend aware I was informed by the people responsible for transport that as a consequence of these two works being dismantled they were looking for capacity in Czechoslovakia and Belgium for which they will have to pay dollars? How does he reconcile that with what he has just said?

Mr. Mayhew

I should be glad to have any special information in possession of the hon. Member. The hold-up is definitely due to a lack of materials, and not to workshop capacity.

17. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that an amount of 15 million dollars, almost equal to the saving achieved by the abolition of the basic petrol ration, is this year being spent on the purchase of mechanical excavators from America, and this being so, why three factories in Germany capable of producing the same type of machinery are now to be dismantled for reparations.

Mr. Mayhew

As far as I am aware, only one plant which has in the past produced mechanical excavators is on the reparations list, and that is a category I war plant. It may be that certain other plants which are to be removed would, after conversion, be capable of manufacturing mechanical excavators. But, owing to the shortage of fuel and raw materials, there is already more productive capacity of this sort left in Germany under the present reparations plan than can be put into production for some considerable time.

Mr. Stokes

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that I was engaged in negotiating for one of these firms for the production of excavators in order to relieve the pressure here? Judge my surprise when I found that it was scheduled for dismantling.

Mr. Mayhew

This plant, the Weserhütte at Bad Oeynhausen, is in fact a category 1 plant.

Mr. Stokes

That is not the plant with which I was negotiating. Mine was Menck and Harnbrok in Hamburg.

Mr. Mayhew

If the hon. Member will get in touch with me, I will look into that particular point.