25. Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on allied decartelisation legislation now that Federal Germany is a full member of the Schuman Plan Coal and Steel Community.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerThe decartelisation legislation which was enacted in 1947 in the three Western Zones of Germany by the respective military Governors is still in force. The elimination of excessive concentrations of economic power in the coal, iron and steel industries was carried out under an allied law, which is also still in force. No changes in this decartelisation and deconcentration legislation have been made in consequence of the Federal Republic's membership of the European Coal and Steel Community.
Miss WardWould it be my hon. Friend's view that German industrialists, through one of their important industrial papers, are flying a kite to see how the allies would react to a re-formation of big groups?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI think that many kites are being flown on all occasions. I see no reason to think that there will be any change in the attitude of this Government or any other towards these problems.