21. Mr. Vaneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much longer it is intended to retain in use in Germany the normal questionnaire, Fragebogen, 853 where, among the 131 questions to be answered, Germans are expected to say how they voted in the elections of November, 1932, and March, 1933.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Bevin)Instructions were issued on 30th June that Germans need no longer answer the two questions to which the hon. Member refers, and these questions have been deleted from new printings of the questionnaire. I cannot say how much longer the present form of questionnaire will be retained as under a Military Government Ordinance dated 1st October the Land Governments are now free to choose their own procedure for carrying out the principles of de-Nazification.
Mr. VaneCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any other questions were deleted or whether those who want a driving licence still have to answer 129 questions instead of 131?
§ Mr. BevinI do not know what they have to answer for a driving licence I myself did not make out the form.
§ Mr. Henry StraussDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that it ever was likely that those two questions would be answered truthfully, bearing in mind that very few people can be found in this country who admit that they voted for hon. Members opposite in 1945?
§ Mr. BevinI should hardly have thought it was necessary for the Universities to return a Member who shows that type of intelligence.
§ Mr. KeelingHave any similar instructions been issued about similar questions which, until recently, were being asked in Austria?