HC Deb 26 April 1948 vol 450 cc17-8
38. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the U.S. Government indicating the categories and quantities of goods to be received under E.R.P.; whether an application will require to be made by His Majesty's Government for specified goods; and whether he will make a statement on the machinery of E.R.P. in so far as it affects the United Kingdom.

Mr. Mayhew

No information of this kind has been received from the United States Government, nor will any such information be available until Congress has passed the necessary Appropriations Bill. The information which has appeared in the Press is based on the tentative and illustrative figures submitted to Congress by the United States Administrator in explanation of how the appropriation requested might be allocated in practice. As regards applications for specific goods, the United States Administrator has not yet indicated what procedure will be required for procuring particular goods. The machinery set up for the handling by the European countries concerned of the European Recovery Programme, and European economic co-operation generally, will be found in the text of the Convention signed in Paris on 16th April, which has been circulated as a White Paper.

Mr. Piratin

When the Government receive the information, will a statement be made to this House so that the matter can be further detailed and debated?

Mr. Mayhew

I am not quite sure to which information the hon. Member is referring; but I will certainly consider making a statement.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Can we assume that the answers to this Question and to Question 41 are required for the information of this country?

Mr. Piratin

Would the Under-Secretary look at this information, which I think the House ought to have, and which he has said we have not yet got? I think it is time we had it.