HC Deb 26 June 1951 vol 489 cc1181-2
57. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total value of monetary claims waived or left in abeyance and of credits granted to Poland since 1945.

Mr. Gaitskell

Nearly £140 million of debts incurred during the last war were waived in 1946 or left in abeyance. No credits have been granted to Poland by the Government since the war, but private credits of about £30 million have been guaranteed.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

Would the right hon. Gentleman say how much of this sum has been left in abeyance and whether, in view of the fact that the Polish Government have now repudiated their payments to this country, he will reopen at the earliest possible date the question of the payment of what has been left in abeyance to this country?

Mr. Gaitskell

According to my information, £47,500,000 is left in abeyance in respect of the pay of the Polish Armed Forces. I do not think that it would be very much good reopening that particular issue. We are, of course, taking up with the Polish Government the matter of the non-payment of their debts.