HC Deb 26 February 1951 vol 484 cc1741-3
50. Professor Savory

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the large number of children who are sent to Danish schools in South Slesvig; and whether he will give an assurance that the British Government will uphold the Kiel Agreement, in accordance with which parents in South Slesvig have the right of sending their children to Danish schools.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ernest Davies)

I am aware of the position, but His Majesty's Government are not a party to the Kiel Declaration. The German Federal Chancellor, however, in a recent letter to the Allied High Commission has endorsed on behalf of the German Federal Government the policy embodied in that Declaration.

Professor Savory

Has the attention of the hon. Gentleman been called to the unfortunate speech made by the Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, Dr. Bartram, at Lubeck, which has raised serious apprehension among the Danish population in Schleswig-Holstein, that as soon as the British Army of Occupation withdraws this agreement will be abrogated? I submit that His Majesty's Government is a party to this agreement.

Mr. Davies

I have not seen the speech to which the hon. Member refers, but I would refer him to a previous statement, which was made by the Minister-President in the Schleswig-Holstein Assembly, in which he said that his Government were not contemplating any change of policy.

52. Mr. Vane

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of pupils, English staff, and employed Germans at the British school at Plön, Schleswig-Holstein; what is the cost per pupil per annum; and what proportion is counted as occupation costs and charged against the German economy.

Mr. Ernest Davies

The average number of pupils at the King Alfred School, Ploen, during 1950–51 has been 584. There are 39 British teachers and 11 British administrative staff. The total number of Germans employed in all capacities is 301. The sterling cost per pupil per annum is £71 and the Deutschemark cost which is charged to occupation costs is DM. 2,853 per pupil.

Mr. Vane

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether all these pupils are British, or whether some of them are German? Does he not think that it is rather a costly business, having 301 Germans for 584 pupils?

Mr. Davies

All the pupils are citizens of the United Kingdom or of the British Commonwealth, so far as I am aware. It is true that the cost stands high and that the number of staff appears high, also. This is one of the matters which General Kirkman will investigate when he is looking into the matter of occupation costs in Germany.