§ 54. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the necessity to restrict drawings upon sterling balances, what action has been taken by His Majesty's Government to secure agreement from the countries holding such balances to refrain from drawing upon them, or to accept counterclaims by His Majesty's Government for services rendered during the war.
§ Sir S. CrippsI gave a list of the countries with which we have agreements governing the blocking of and release of sterling balances in the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexley (Mr. Bramall) on 11th November. As regards the second part of the Question, a number of claims for war stores, fixed military assets and so forth have already been accepted and settled while some are still outstanding and will, we hope, be settled before long.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-EyreIs it not a fact that the second part of the Chancellor's answer has nothing to do with what I put down, which was to ask the Chancellor what action had been taken to secure agreement from the countries holding sterling balances to refrain from drawing upon them or to accept counter claims by His Majesty's Government for services rendered during the war? To which countries have counter-claims been submitted? Can the Chancellor, in view 951 of what he has said about the need to make these counter claims, come now to the House and say that no such counter claim has been made?
§ Sir S. CrippsThe matters I mentioned are all counter claims.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite - EyreWith respect, I would ask the Chancellor if it is not a fact that all he has done is to scale down these balances by selling assets abroad? When is he going to enter a counter claim in respect of services rendered by us during the war to the countries concerned?
§ Sir S. CrippsWe have no intention of entering such a counter claim. It is a matter to be taken into consideration.