§ 60. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to prevent German industrialists invoicing exports 1202 for less than their worth and so organising a dollar leakage from the pool of foreign money created to pay for imports.
§ Mr. BevinAn attempt is now being made to reorganise the Customs and Frontier Control Services of the three Western zones as a whole. This re-organisation should make for a much more efficient and sound service than at present exists and should greatly reduce the opportunities for exchange control evasion.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeCan my right hon Friend confirm or deny that the irregularities in this matter cover as much as 60 million dollars, because, if that is so, it is a really serious thing?
§ Mr. BevinI admit it is very serious. It is a very serious case and very difficult to handle. We are reorganising the whole business. I have no knowledge of the exact amount.
§ Mr. StokesIs it not correct that in fact the export prices of all these materials are controlled by J.E.I.A., a joint agency representing the bizone, and that the Germans have little to do with it as far as export prices are concerned?