§ 17. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date, and by whom, were instructions given to 1173 destroy the office buildings of the Deutsche Werke at Spandau; and whether he is aware that they could have provided accommodation for civilian population equal to that of upwards of 100 flats.
§ Mr. MayhewMy hon. Friend appears to be misinformed. There are no separate office buildings at the Deutsche Werke at Spandau. The offices formed a portion of the Hindenberg factory building, the destruction of which as a category I war plant was ordered by the responsible Control Commission authorities in October, 1947. I am informed that the conversion into flats of these offices which were themselves badly damaged was impracticable and that the German authorities concerned agreed with this view.
§ Mr. StokesIs my hon. Friend aware that it was the German authorities themselves who asked me to go and see the place in course of demolition and that they asserted that it could have been converted?
§ Mr. GallacherHow could the hon. Member know when he was in the House here?
§ Mr. StokesWhat is it to do with the hon. Member anyway. It is too late to act on that now, but will my hon. Friend take steps to ensure that buildings which can be used for civilian occupation in Berlin are not quite arbitrarily knocked down because some incompetent person took a decision months or years ago?
§ Mr. MayhewI do not agree that it was a wrong decision or that it was incompetently taken. On the first point, the German authorities agree with the statement I have given.