§ 34. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made with the Federal German Government for the payment of the British occupation costs after the end of the present year.
§ Mr. NuttingAs long as the occupation régimeis in force, the Federal German Government meet the local costs of the British occupying forces in accordance with their requirements. We are at present discussing with the Federal German Government our requirements for the period after the end of the present year.
§ Mr. FletcherAs it is now very doubtful whether the European Defence Agreement will be fully ratified, may we have an assurance that next year there will be no reduction in the present contribution of the Germans towards the cost of the British occupation forces?
§ Mr. NuttingAs the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 7th May, 1953, arrangements have been made to ensure that the cost of our troops in Germany will be covered between the date of ratification of the Bonn Convention and the E.D.C. Treaty—which are to be ratified simultaneously as the hon. Gentleman knows—and 30th June, 1954. Thereafter, of course, German defence contributions will be assessed in the same way as that adopted in N.A.T.O. But if the occupation régime should still be in force on 30th June, 1954, then, of course, the existing arrangement will still apply.